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Hard to belive the EU will let this happen

The Netherlands deports ex-refugees to the Syria of peace
Published October 26, 2024 at 3:23 p.m
Domestic. After eight hours of intense negotiations, the coalition government of the Netherlands has agreed on a new asylum policy where former refugees will, among other things, begin to be deported to peaceful areas in Syria. For those who cannot return home, the government will open a new refugee camp - in Uganda.

The popular bill, mainly pushed by Geert Wilders and his PVV party, is part of a wider package of measures aimed at limiting immigration and reducing pressure on the country's asylum system.

Last week, Dutch government officials confirmed plans to send rejected asylum seekers to Uganda, modeled after Britain's Rwanda plan and Italy's offshore processing center in the Muslim country of Albania.

- It is important for the government that rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin. But that's where it stops sometimes, says Caroline van der Plas, party leader for BBB who participated in the negotiations, to the state media company NOS.

- Uganda is a hospitable country with which we have good relations, she adds.

On Thursday, the leaders of the four coalition parties – PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB – met at the Prime Minister's official residence to finalize the negotiations.

The result was a compromise that several of the party leaders describe as a success.

- We have reached an agreement, said Dilan Yeşilgöz, leader of VVD, after the meeting.

NSC's Nicolien van Vroonhoven added:

- We have grown closer to each other.

According to Dutch media reports, the reforms will include shorter asylum periods, limited rights to family reunification and an easing of rules for withdrawing residence permits from foreign nationals who commit crimes.

One of the most debated elements of the proposal is the plan to deport ex-refugees to Syria, where the government is considering classifying certain parts of Syria as "safe zones".

It would enable the government to repatriate people who had previously received protection in the Netherlands.

Caroline van der Plas called the negotiations "a very good evening" and expressed support for the decision, while Geert Wilders confirmed that the parties had found a common position on the issue.