EU ministers stress unity on immigration, dismiss Dutch opt-out

 

EU ministers stress unity on immigration, dismiss Dutch opt-out

October 10, 2024

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/10/eu-ministers-stress-unity-on-immigration-dismiss-dutch-opt-out/

 

European immigration ministers have dismissed Dutch hopes of an “opt-out” on EU migration policy during a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday.

 

Asylum minister Marjolein Faber was at the gathering in an effort to win support for the move, telling reporters as she arrived she is “optimistic”, but only Hungary would appear to be willing to support her.

 

“This is not a good idea,” Sweden’s centre-right minister Tobias Billström told reporters. “It is only logical to continue to work together, rather than start looking for special solutions for individual countries.”

 

Germany’s minister Nancy Faeser described the Dutch position as “not a good idea” while Belgium’s minister Nicole de Moor said it is “important to implement the European migration pact”.

 

Even Finland’s far right minister Lulu Ranne said it is better to work together, the Telegraaf reported.

 

European commissioner Ylva Johansson reiterated her earlier statement, pointing out that an opt-out is not a possibility. “And we have already told the Netherlands this,” she said.

 

The only option for an opt-out would be if the European treaty was amended and there are no plans to do this. All 27 member states would also have to agree.

 

Faber, a minister on behalf of the far right PVV, has said that the Netherlands will continue to prioritise implementation of a new EU pact on migration and asylum.

 

Those rules, according to the commission, “are designed to manage and normalise migration for the long term, providing EU countries with the flexibility to address the specific challenges they face, and necessary safeguards to protect people in need.”

 

Faber has also drawn a blank in her efforts to win support for declaring a crisis around asylum back home.