The Netherlands may be the next European Union country to introduce border controls with its two neighbouring countries, Belgium and Germany, to deal with the migration situation.
According to Dutch broadcaster RTL, border controls would become effective at the end of next month, Schengen.News reports.
In order to do so, the Netherlands should notify the Commission and other EU countries at least four weeks before implementing the decision under articles 25 and 26 of the Schengen Border Code.
Yet, Dutch authorities have still not made an official notification, along with the reasons, of the temporary reintroduction of such a measure.
Netherlands Introduced Border Controls Only 1 Time
Up to this point, the Dutch government has hardly ever informed the European Union regarding the introduction of border controls, not even during the COVID-19 situation.
The only time that the Northwestern European country introduced such a measure was in 2014, during the Nuclear Security Summit.
Border Controls Reintroduction Influenced by Germany
The Netherlands no longer plans to declare a refugee crisis; however, it plans to tighten measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers and deal with the migration situation, according to a report from Dutch News.
Among the measures are reducing residency permits for refugees from five to three years and introducing border controls.
Citing security risks related to irregular migration, the Netherlands’ eastern bordering country, Germany, on September 16, initiated controls at all the country’s borders, considering the measure an effective way to deal with irregular migration.
Unlike Germany, Belgium has not opted for such measures in spite of being subject to a similar situation.
A report from Brussels Times revealed that the lack of accommodation for asylum seekers led to a reception crisis, with a total of 3,900 international protection applications without shelter or state support as of August.
Half of Dutch Support Reintroduction of Border Controls Between EU Countries
Nearly half of Dutch nationals support border controls between EU countries as a means to deal with immigration.
Based on a survey from the Dutch research agency, Kieskompas, published in June 2024, nearly half of the over 51,000 respondents who participated in the research voted yes to the reintroduction of border controls to reduce immigration.
Netherlands Calling to Accelerate Migrant Returns
According to a report from the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) organisation published earlier this month, the Netherlands, along with Austria, are the leading proponents of a request by 17 European countries to the EU to accelerate the process of returning migrants to their origin countries.
The proposal of the Netherlands and Austria, known as “non-paper”, which is supported by 12 EU countries, calls for a stricter EU returns system.
The migration issue was also discussed at the Brussels summit on October 17, in which EU leaders urged for new legislation to increase and speed up migrants’ returns.
Following in-depth discussions on migration, the EU leaders urged the European Commission to submit new legislation to accelerate migrants’ return, among others.
Source: https://schengen.news/netherlands-considers-reintroduction-of-border-controls-amid-migration-concerns/
