The new far-right-dominated Dutch government officially asked the European Union today for an exemption from its migration obligations.
The move fulfills a campaign promise by the xenophobic Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders to drastically reduce the number of immigrants entering the Netherlands.
“I have just informed the EU Commission that I want a migration opt-out within Europe for the Netherlands. We need to be in charge of our own asylum policy again!” PVV Migration Minister Marjolein Faber wrote in a letter to European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson that was posted on social media.
On Tuesday, the government, which came to power in July, announced stricter policies to hold back or kick out migrants who don’t qualify for asylum.
Even before the plan was made public, the European Commission warned the Dutch government that its approach would not work.
“We have adopted legislation. It’s adopted. You don’t opt out of adopted legislation in the EU,” spokesman Eric Mamer said last Friday.
The government plans to declare an “asylum crisis” to pave the way for tougher measures, including restricting the provision of visas for family members of people granted asylum.
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