The first samples of writing, after the adoption of stricter legislation on asylum and border control, are being given these days by the government of the Netherlands, in which Geert Wilders’ extreme right-wingers have the first say anyway. It essentially loosens the hands of the military, with additional, increased powers for border control. The measure is part of a more comprehensive “package” of Dirk Schoof’s government that was passed by the country’s parliament last month.

Military type solution

As Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber said on the occasion of the introduction of the new measures, “the Dutch armed forces can now work more effectively – they already work effectively anyway, but now that they have been given more mandates, they can therefore carry out their their checks in the same place for a longer period of time. This is no longer limited. And therefore they can do more work with the same number of people.”

Faber also comes from Wilders’ Freedom party and was at the border herself on the first day of the measure’s implementation, apparently wanting to send a clear political message. He also took an opportunity to respond to the criticisms, which have been expressed about the nature of this measure, by lawyers, mayors and representatives of humanitarian organizations.

“There are always people who say not to do anything, but I will not be deterred. We are taking these measures because I want that influx to be reduced, and this is one of the steps to begin to achieve that. I won’t let them stop me. I have confidence in the military. It works effectively. In fact, we work in the same way as our German colleagues. Everything works very well there. We also work very well with them. So I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Berlin as an alibi

Germany’s decision to introduce tighter border controls apparently served as an alibi. The Hague government’s stated goal is to limit the number of refugees arriving in the country and to intensify deportations. In fact, it has expressed together with Hungary the desire to be exempted from the new updated EU asylum policy, which is also legally possible.

The new legislation abolishes the right of indefinite stay for refugees, limiting it to three years and then subject to review. It also removes the obligation of municipalities to offer housing to refugees and radically limits family reunification. All these were pre-election commitments of Wilders and his party.

The latter even wanted the country to be declared in a state of emergency, a proposal that is currently off the table. This would allow measures to be taken without parliamentary approval. In order to prevent the fall of the government, Wilders abandoned the idea of ​​emergency laws.

Syria as a safe country?

The Dutch far-right leader described the measures now presented as historic and “the toughest asylum policy ever”. The number of asylum seekers in the Netherlands remains stable at around 40,000 per year. The Netherlands wanted to designate large areas of Syria as safe, something it is not known whether it will stick to. Germany and Austria are reviewing relevant similar decisions on safe third country, after the developments of the last days in the bloody country.