Dutch govt to declare 'asylum crisis' to curb migration

The Dutch government says it aims to implement a raft of measures to limit migration in the coming months, including a moratorium on all new applications, days after Germany announced new border controls to keep out unwanted migrants.

The new government, led by nationalist Geert Wilders' anti-Islam PVV party, said it would declare an asylum crisis, enabling it to take measures to curb migration without parliamentary consent.

Opposition parties have questioned whether this move is necessary or even legal but the PVV's Migration Minister Marjolein Faber said she was acting on opportunities granted by the country's own migration laws.

Mensen voelen dagelijks de gevolgen van de asielcrisis. De kiezer heeft ons een duidelijke opdracht gegeven. Het roer moet om en de instroom moet direct omlaag. Daarom kom ik met het strengste asielbeleid ooit. Ik ga voor een veiliger Nederland.https://t.co/Cw4Y4pwTLl pic.twitter.com/Vcvx34XF5p— Marjolein Faber (@MinisterAenM) September 13, 2024

"We are taking measures to make the Netherlands as unattractive as possible for asylum seekers," Faber said in a statement on Friday.

The government reconfirmed its aim to seek an exemption of European Union asylum rules even though the EU is likely to resist, as members of the bloc have already agreed on their migration pact and opt-outs are usually discussed in the negotiating phase.

"We have adopted legislation, you don't opt out of adopted legislation in the EU, that is a general principle," EU spokesman Eric Mamer told reporters when asked about a possible Dutch opt-out on Friday.

Among its first moves, the government said it would end the granting of open-ended asylum permits while significantly limiting options for those who have been granted asylum to reunite with their families.

It would also start working on a state of emergency law that would suspend all decisions on new applications for up to two years, and that would limit facilities offered to asylum seekers.

Wilders won an election last year with the promise of imposing the strictest migration rules in the EU.

He managed to form a cabinet with three conservative partners in May but only after he gave up his own ambition to become prime minister.

The cabinet instead is led by Dick Schoof, an unelected bureaucrat who has no party affiliation.

Like its neighbour Germany, the Netherlands said it will also impose stricter border controls to combat human trafficking and curb irregular migration.