Rutte on the refugees: No guarantee that no one will have to sleep on the grass

The sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers led to “intense discussions” in the cabinet. “With these numbers, I can’t guarantee that no one will have to sleep on the grass this summer.” Prime Minister Mark Rutte gave this signal at his weekly press conference.

Figures released by NOS this week show that around 76,000 people will apply for asylum this year under the maximum scenario. This number may remain high in the coming years.

A slightly lower estimate is around 67,000 people. Still, that’s far more than the cabinet’s latest estimate of 50,650 refugees, not counting Ukrainians.

Rutte predicts that the cabinet will propose the measures in weeks rather than months. “This raises big societal questions in terms of acceptance, education and housing. We have to find answers to this, and it is not easy.” The coalition parties assume that the VVD, D66, CDA and CU will emerge despite major political differences.

“We don’t put together a big, difficult package. It’s going to be a combination of what we’re already doing, tweaking, and what we’re already starting on.”

Few new options

The reason why the cabinet has not presented such a “big, drastic package of new measures” is largely due to far-reaching disagreements within the coalition. Roughly speaking, VVD and CDA are against D66 and CU, and there are several new options that can count on the support of all parties.

For example, the CDA wants a two-status system where asylum seekers with the right to stay can also obtain temporary residence permits. The limited is valid from one year to three years, family reunification cannot be claimed. VVD wants to support this project.

But Bundestag member Don Ceder says ChristenUnie doesn’t like it: “I can’t take this process bubble seriously.

VVD’s Ruben Brekelmans requests more disclaimers. Currently, only asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies and pose a threat to the Netherlands can be declared unwanted. This should apply to anyone who opposes their deportation after exhausting all legal remedies. This is also stated in the coalition agreement, but this measure has not yet been implemented.

It keeps other parties bound by agreements. “We agreed in the coalition agreement that immigration can be brought under control. It is very clear that this is not happening right now.”

While D66 and CU see the solution in advanced European regulations for the fair distribution of all asylum seekers, VVD and CDA focus more on stopping the international influx of asylum seekers. For example, through immigration agreements with North African countries such as Tunisia and tighter surveillance of external borders.

Rutte says the promise made to their VVD to reduce immigration holds true. She is also working on this issue in the international arena. The Italian government declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, and Rutte later did not speak to Italian Prime Minister Meloni in person, but said talks on Tunisia were ongoing.

Rutte: “Tunisia seems to be doing little to counter the enormous current on the sea route to Italy. This is a real problem. That was also the case with French President Macron yesterday.”

All kinds of suggestions are now on the table in the cabinet, such as establishing safe zones in normally unsafe countries so that people can be turned away or sent back. Or detain rejected asylum seekers longer if they cannot be deported. The European border guard Frontex can be turned into a kind of army. A maximum limit for the influx of refugees outside the EU can be set or reception places can be established.

But for now, due to differences of opinion within the coalition, the deals that can be obtained from the coalition agreement is the maximum that can be achieved. Rutte says there is no question of breaking the coalition agreement, as with nitrogen.

Source: NOS

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