Published 26 October 2024 at 15.23
Domestic. After eight hours of intense negotiations, the coalition government of the Netherlands has agreed on a new asylum policy where former refugees will, among other things, begin to be deported to peaceful areas in Syria. For those who cannot be returned home, the government will open a new refugee camp – in Uganda.
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The popular bill, which was mainly pushed by Geert Wilders and his party PVV, is part of a wider package of measures aimed at limiting immigration and reducing pressure on the country's asylum system.
Last week, Dutch government officials confirmed plans to send rejected asylum seekers to Uganda, with Britain's Rwanda plan and Italy's offshore treatment centers in the Muslim country of Albania as role models.
– It is important for the government that rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin. But that's where it stops sometimes, says Caroline van der Plas, party leader of BBB who participated in the negotiations, to the state media company NOS.
– Uganda is a hospitable country with which we have good relations, she adds.
During Thursday, the leaders of the four coalition parties – PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB – met in the prime minister's official residence to finalize the negotiations.
The result was a compromise that several of the party leaders describe as a success.
– We have reached an agreement, Dilan Yeşilgöz, leader of VVD, said after the meeting.
NSC's Nicolien van Vroonhoven added:
– We have approached each other.
According to information from Dutch media, the reforms will include shorter asylum permits, limited rights to family reunification and an easing of the rules for withdrawing residence permits from foreign nationals who commit crimes.
One of the the most debated elements of the proposal is the plan to deport ex-refugees to Syria, where the government is considering classifying certain parts of Syria as “safe zones”.
It would enable the government to repatriate people who were previously protected in The Netherlands.
Caroline van der Plas called the negotiations “a very good evening” and expressed support for the decision, while Geert Wilders confirmed that the parties had found a common position on the issue.