The Government of the Netherlands approves three reforms to tighten immigration policy

MADRID Dec. 20 () –

This Friday, the Government of the Netherlands supported three reforms to toughen immigration and asylum policy, in line with the promises made in recent months by a coalition led by the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), winner of the last elections. parliamentarians.

The leader of the PVV, Geert Wilders, has celebrated on social networks the “fantastic” approval of the Executive for the proposals presented by his colleague Marjolein Faber, Minister of Asylum and Migration. The Council of State must still examine the changes to verify their legal fit in the current system.

According to Faber, “what Dutch citizens want” is for the number of refugees to decrease. “A change in policies will limit new arrivals and encourage returns,” he stressed this Friday, in a statement in which he advocated sending “a clear signal” about the positions of the current Government.

The reforms propose reducing the initial permit for refugees from five years to three, will block family reunification when children are already adults and will criminalize the lack of collaboration with deportations, among other changes that have already been anticipated in recent months. the authorities of the Netherlands.

The Dutch Government has also maintained controls at all its land borders since December 9, with the stated objective of limiting the irregular flow of migrants.