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EU Commission: current asylum rules remain binding for the Netherlands

by AI | 18.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

BRUSSELS (ANP) – The EU rules for asylum and migration “remain binding for the Netherlands”, emphasizes a spokesperson for the European Commission. This remains the case until a possible amendment of the EU treaty. The spokesperson says this in an initial response to the Dutch request for an exception to the asylum policy, during a daily press conference.

Migrants arrive at the port of the Italian island of Lampedusa. Photo Alessandro SERRANO / AFP

The European Commission received the letter from the Dutch asylum minister Marjolein Faber on Wednesday, in which she states that the Netherlands wants an exception to European asylum policy. Such an opt-out does the Netherlands want in case of a change in the EU treaty. “We do not expect the EU treaty to be amended quickly,” said a spokesperson for the European Commission in an initial response. She also does not expect European changes on asylum and migration in the short term.

The European Commission is pleased that Faber explicitly writes in her letter that the Netherlands prioritizes the implementation of the European asylum pact, which was adopted earlier this year and will take effect in just under two years.

The opt-out that the Netherlands wants also attracts the attention of international media, as became clear during the press conference. When asked which procedure the Netherlands should follow if the Schoof cabinet wants to take the initiative for an EU treaty change, the spokesperson could not immediately give an answer. Incidentally, Faber’s letter does not state that the Netherlands wants to take such an initiative.

Another journalist felt that the European Commission should immediately clarify that the exceptional position desired by the Netherlands is unachievable because the member states must unanimously agree to a treaty change. “Just say that this is simply propaganda. It is the duty of the commission to say that this is unachievable.” The spokesperson did not concretely address that. “Our position is clear and we will not go further than that.”

(September 18)