Schoof cabinet asylum measures explained

When the Schoof cabinet was formed in 2024, it agreed to declare an asylum crisis in the Netherlands. An agreement was struck between coalition parties in October 2024 to implement several asylum measures through the legislative process.

Background

In 2023 – the year before the Schoof cabinet was sworn in – around 330,000 migrants entered the Netherlands, including 38,000 first-time asylum applicants and family reunification migrants. Refugees from Ukraine, fleeing the Russian invasion, did not have to apply for asylum and totaled 110,000.[1] The Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis concluded that asylum migration did not show a clear trend and was volatile; yearly totals have depended on particular conflicts.[2] The number of first-time asylum applications in the first half of 2024 exceeded those from the same period the previous year, but fell below the previous year's levels in the third quarter.[3]

Proposed asylum crisis

The coalition agreement of the right-wing Schoof cabinet, struck by the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB in May 2024, included plans to issue a "well-substantiated" statutory instrument to suspend certain provisions of the Aliens Act and to introduce an Asylum Crisis Act without delay. It was agreed that no new asylum applications would be processed and that the Dispersal Act would be revoked.[4] [5] [6] The coalition parties called their migration policy the most stringent and extensive in history.[7] In response to questions by MEP Sophie in 't Veld, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson wrote that a reasoned request would have to be submitted in order to proclaim an asylum crisis, showing that the system has become non-functional despite preparations.[8] In late August 2024, Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber said that the Netherlands was experiencing an asylum crisis when discussing the closure of an application center for Ukrainian refugees due to overcrowding. She clarified that her comments did not constitute an official declaration of an asylum crisis and that a bill would be finalized around Dutch; Flemish: [[Prinsjesdag]], in mid-September. Prime Minister Dick Schoof remarked that more time would be required.[4] [9]

The governing agreement of the Schoof cabinet, presented on 13 September, reiterated that an asylum crisis would be declared by royal decree, bypassing initial parliamentary approval.[10] Schoof stated that citizens were experiencing an asylum crisis but admitted he was unable to specify conditions or a timeline for its resolution.[11] Opposition parties questioned the legal viability of invoking emergency powers, and they criticized the lack of parliamentary consultation.[12] Nicolien van Vroonhoven (NSC) noted that her party's support was contingent on a positive advice of the Council of State.[13] Her party joined the opposition in demanding the release of official documents related to the planned use of emergency measures during the annual General Political Debate following Dutch; Flemish: Prinsjesdag, referring to the parliament's right to information under Article 68 of the Constitution of the Netherlands.[14] Documents of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations showed that civil servants had advised against using emergency legislation, contending that the situation was unlikely to meet the threshold for exceptional circumstances.[15] Faber insisted that she believed a crisis could still be declared.[16] The VVD and NSC later called on the cabinet to prepare an expedited law in parallel, while Geert Wilders stressed that the cabinet would be in trouble if no emergency law would be enacted.[17] [18]

Opposition parties held a majority in the Senate, which would have to approve continuation of an emergency. On 9 October 2024, during the Senate's General Political Debate, a motion was carried declaring the use of emergency powers undesirable and urging the cabinet to propose an alternative approach.[19] A report by the concluded the following day that "the government could not claim to have a fully-fledged rule of law" if it were to abuse emergency powers.[20]

October 2024 agreement

Schoof facilitated negotiations between the coalition parties in October 2024 to resolve their disagreements, initially inviting only the PVV and NSC.[21] The coalition came to an agreement on 25 October, and it was adopted by the cabinet the same day. The proposed use of emergency powers was abandoned, and new legislation would be introduced to enact asylum measures, most of which were outlined in the coalition agreement, along with some additional provisions.[22] [23] [24]

The asylum application procedure would be tightened through eliminating permanent residence permits, reducing the validity of five-year permits to three years, making adult children and unmarried partners ineligible for family reunification, broadening the possibilities for pronouncing convicts undesirable, and abolishing judicial penalties for the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) in case procedures exceed the statutory time limit. Certain regions of Syria, responsible for the largest number of asylum seekers due to its civil war, would be declared safe. The Netherlands would reduce its commitment to take on UNHCR refugees for resettlement from 500 to 200. Furthermore, the Dispersal Act would be repealed, and border checks would start in late November with other countries of the Schengen Area. 50 to 100 additional prison cells would be allocated to hold rejected asylum seekers, and municipalities would no longer be required to house refugees whose asylum has been granted. Instead, basic housing provisions would be established.[22] [25] [26]

The cabinet invoked an article of the Schengen Agreement to ramp up border checks for human trafficking and illegal migration for the duration of six months, starting on 9 December 2024, citing a high influx of asylum seekers.[27] [28] In a letter to Faber, 46 border municipalities expressed their concerns about the measure's effect on commutes.[29]

Parliamentary responses by Faber revealed the existence of a draft note on the proposed asylum crisis by the state advocate, despite earlier statements by Schoof and Faber that no documents existed. Laurens Dassen (Volt) called for the draft note's release, and the House of Representatives adopted the request in November 2024 with NSC's support.[30] [31]

Notes and References

  1. Staat van Migratie 2024: In 2023 stappen gezet naar grip op migratie . 14 June 2024 . . 2024 State of Migration: Steps made in 2023 towards manageable migration .
  2. News: Instroomcijfers laten geen asielcrisis zien, zeggen deskundigen . subscription . 24 October 2024 . Mol . Jennifer . 27 October 2024 . nl . . Influx totals do not show an asylum crisis, according to experts .
  3. News: Aantal eerste asielverzoeken met kwart gedaald, blijkt nét na kabinetscrisis over asielmaatregelen . subscription . 29 October 2024 . Van der Veen . Casper . Van de Ven . Liam . 29 October 2024 . nl . . Number of first-time asylum applications fell by a quarter, just after cabinet crisis about asylum measures .
  4. News: PVV-minister Faber zegt 'asielcrisis' en meteen is er verwarring . subscription . 22 August 2024 . Van Buuren . Yara . Kieskamp . Wilma . 27 August 2024 . nl . . PVV minister Faber says 'asylum crisis' and confusion ensues .
  5. News: Hij komt er, de asielcrisiswet, maar hoe en wanneer blijft de vraag . subscription . 26 August 2024 . Meijer . Remco . 29 August 2024 . nl . . The Asylum Crisis Act will come, but it remains unclear when and how .
  6. News: Hij komt er, de asielcrisiswet, maar hoe en wanneer blijft de vraag . 26 August 2024 . Meijer . Remco . 12 October 2024 . nl . . The Asylum Crisis Act will arrive, but how and when remains to be seen .
  7. News: De machtsoverdracht op Justitie: 'Wij houden van de oude bewindslieden en zoeken een nieuwe relatie' . subscription . 2 July 2024 . Meijer . Remco . 8 July 2024 . nl . . The transfer of power at Justice: 'We like the old government members and are looking for a new relationship' .
  8. News: Europese Commissie: asielcrisis uitroepen kan niet zomaar . 10 July 2024 . 27 August 2024 . nl . . European Commission: Proclaiming an asylum crisis is not allowed without proper cause .
  9. News: Faber: rond Prinsjesdag voorstellen over uitroepen asielcrisis . 21 August 2024 . 27 August 2024 . nl . . Faber: Proposals to declare asylum crisis around Prinsjesdag .
  10. News: Kabinet ambitieus over asiel en bouwen, maar stuit bij mest op grenzen . 13 September 2024 . 21 September 2024 . nl . . Cabinet ambitious on asylum and construction, but is constrained on manure .
  11. News: Mensen ervaren een asielcrisis, zegt Schoof, maar wanneer die crisis voorbij is? Dat kan hij niet zeggen . subscription . 13 September 2024 . Oost . Georgia . 27 October 2024 . nl . . People are experiencing an asylum crisis, according to Schoof, but when will this crisis be over? He could not say .
  12. News: Minister Faber wil Tweede Kamer 'buitenspel' zetten en asielcrisis uitroepen, oppositie verbolgen . subscription . 12 September 2024 . Van der Sterren . Luuk . 9 October 2024 . nl . . Minister Faber wants to 'bypass' House of Representatives and declare an asylum crisis, opposition enraged .
  13. News: Van Vroonhoven (NSC) irriteert coalitiegenoten met uitspraak asielplannen . 16 September 2024 . 22 September 2024 . nl . . Van Vroonhoven (NSC) angers coalition parties with comments on asylum plans .
  14. News: Kamer eist ambtelijke stukken, na weigering kabinet . subscription . 19 September 2024 . Pelgrim . Christiaan . 10 October 2024 . nl . . House demands official documents, following refusal by the cabinet .
  15. News: Kamer in de ban van ambtelijk advies over noodwet voor asiel . 19 September 2024 . 10 October 2024 . nl . . House gripped by official advise about emergency asylum law .
  16. News: Asielminister Faber denkt noodrecht te kunnen doorzetten . 20 September 2024 . 10 October 2024 . nl . . Asylum minister Faber believes she can continue emergency legislation .
  17. News: Wilders voert druk over asielnoodwet op . subscription . 1 October 2024 . 1 October 2024 . nl . . Wilders increases pressure over asylum emergency act .
  18. News: Coalitie nadert frontale botsing over asiel. Maar wie heeft er zin in een kabinetsval? . subscription . 3 October 2024 . Van Eijsden . Auke . 5 October 2024 . nl . . Coalition is heading towards a full-blown clash over asylum. But who wants the cabinet to collapse? .
  19. News: Eerste Kamer keert zich tegen asielnoodwet: 'Onwenselijk' . 9 October 2024 . 10 October 2024 . nl . . Senate turns against emergency asylum law: 'Undesirable' .
  20. News: Asielplannen van het kabinet zakken door de rechtsstatelijke ondergrens, zien advocaten. 'Dat rechters dit dan moeten repareren, is zorgelijk' . subscription . 10 October 2024 . Al Ali . Wafa . 13 October 2024 . nl . . The cabinet's asylum plans are crossing constitutional lower limit, according to lawyers. 'The fact that judges would have to fix it, is worrying' .
  21. News: Voltallige coalitie onderhandelt over asiel met deadline in zicht . subscription . 22 October 2024 . Sie . Puck . Wolzak . Martine . De Horde . Cor . 22 October 2024 . nl . . Full coalition negotiates on asylum with deadline in sight .
  22. News: Kabinet wil zo snel mogelijk asielwet, 'opvang moet tijdelijk zijn' . 25 October 2024 . 27 October 2024 . nl . . Cabinet wants asylum law as soon as possible, 'sheltering should be temporary' .
  23. News: Geert Wilders was standvastig en dreigde met een kabinetscrisis. Nu buigt hij toch het hoofd . subscription . 23 October 2024 . Van Eijsden . Auke . 27 October 2024 . nl . . Geert Wilders was persistent and threatened with a cabinet crisis. He now bows his head after all .
  24. News: Kabinet scherpt asielbeleid verder aan met 'noodmaatregelenwet' . subscription . 25 October 2024 . Van den Dool . Pim . 28 October 2024 . nl . . Cabinet sharpens asylum policy further with 'emergency measures bill' .
  25. News: Asieldeal PVV en NSC uitgelekt: geen noodrecht, wel vergaande maatregelen . 23 October 2024 . 27 October 2024 . nl . . Asylum deal PVV and NSC leaked: No emergency law, but far-reaching measures . Jonker . Jorn . Dietvorst . Guus .
  26. News: Geen noodrecht, maar een pakket 'asielnoodmaatregelen', wat valt daarvan te verwachten? . subscription . 24 October 2024 . Meijer . Remco . Van de Water . Marjolein . Van den Berg . Jurre . 27 October 2024 . nl . . No emergency powers, but a set of 'asylum emergency measures', what can be expected? .
  27. News: Strengere grenscontroles in Nederland vanaf 9 december . subscription . 11 November 2024 . 11 November 2024 . nl . . Stricter border checks in the Netherlands starting 9 December .
  28. News: Kabinet: vanaf 9 december extra grenscontroles tegen migratie . 11 November 2024 . 11 November 2024 . nl . . Cabinet: Addition border controls against migration starting 9 December .
  29. News: Tientallen grensgemeenten uiten zorgen over grenscontroles in brief aan minister Faber . subscription . 26 November 2024 . De Groot . Joep . 28 November 2024 . nl . . Tens of border municipalities express concerns about border checked in letter to Minister Faber .
  30. News: Kabinet ontkende het bestaan van 'asielcrisis'-notitie, maar deze blijkt er wél te zijn . subscription . 22 November 2024 . Van Heerde . Johan . 28 November 2024 . nl . . Cabinet denied existence of 'asylum crisis' note, but it turns out that it does exist .
  31. News: Coalitie ruziet wéér over asielnoodrecht, nu over 'verzwegen' conceptstuk landsadvocaat . 26 November 2024 . Keultjes . Hanneke . Den Hartog . Tobias . 28 November 2024 . nl . . Coalition fights yet again about emergency powers for asylum, now about 'concealed' draft note by the state advocate .

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