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Netherlands: Asylum seekers target of government

01 September 1998

Asylum policy is to be tightened up under new policies drawn up by the incoming government. The new cabinet originally announced that it was no longer prepared to subsidise new asylum seekers, who would now have to fend for themselves whilst being place on a waiting list. Junior Justice minister Cohen blamed the change in policy on the increase in asylum seekers. Opposition from the coalition Labour Party (PvdA) and Democracy '66 (D'66, similar to the British Liberal Party) has resulted in these policies being modified.

According to Cohen the policy needed to be tightened following an increase in the projected numbers arriving in the Netherlands from 48,000 in 1998 to 67,000 the following year. However, when the government presented the proposals to the coalition parties only the right-wing Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie supported them. Following this opposition the government has now retreated to a position of providing basic support in tent camps provided by the army. The waiting lists however will remain.

The government's new policy has come under fire from campaigners. Wil van Der Schans, of the civil liberties organisation Jansen en Janssens, points out that the government's excuse for the policy change was more than somewhat lame. "The government knew that there was likely to be an increase in the numbers needing asylum yet failed to increase the housing capacity to fit the need."

Jansen en Janssens, 15.10.98.