On Wednesday 18 September, the European Commission took note of the Dutch government’s official request to derogate from European asylum and migration policies. “We confirm that we have received the letter” from the Dutch Minister for Asylum and Migration, Marjolein Faber van de Klashorst, addressed to European Commissioner Ylva Johansson, it said.
“We also note that the minister herself has acknowledged that this ‘opt-out’ will only be possible in the event of treaty changes”, added spokesperson Anitta Hipper.
The Commission is therefore not expecting “immediate changes” to European asylum and migration rules.
Dick Schoof’s government, which includes Geert Wilders’ PVV, had already announced in May its intention to ask for an ‘opt-out’ on these policies.
In her letter, the Dutch minister, herself a member of the PVV, explains that the government wants to drastically reduce the volume of migration to the Netherlands in order to meet its constitutional obligations in areas such as public housing, health and education.
“The government will ask for an opt-out from the European acquis on asylum and migration if the Treaties are amended”, writes the Minister. But as long as the Netherlands does not obtain this ‘opt-out’, the country considers it “essential” to implement the recent Pact on Migration and Asylum as soon as possible in order to increase migration controls and limit the influx of migrants to the Netherlands, she explains. “We will therefore continue to prioritise the implementation of the Pact”.
To date, Denmark and Ireland are the only Member States to have negotiated a derogation from this acquis. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)