By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Dutch Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber on Friday sent a letter to the European Commission on behalf of the govermernt request for an opt-out on the European asylum rules has led to indignant reactions from Dutch opposition parties.
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof described the request as “professional and responsible.”
The Netherlands wants the opt-out in the event of a change to the European Union treaty. This is not currently on the agenda, and the treaty is not expected to be changed in the short-term.
Dutch opposition parties have called the letter “symbolic politics,” “hopeless” and “amateurish.”
The government’s mission is “not hopeless at all,” Schoof countered during a debate in the parliament.
“As long as there is no treaty change, we will stick to the rules,” Schoof said.
“Because we are a reliable member state of the European Union and we will remain so. We need that.”
D66 party leader Rob Jetten said, “It is a one-sided note with no chance of success.”
“These are not notes that will be well received in Europe,” said Christian Democratic Appeal leader Henri Bontenbal.
“I do not think that it is appropriate to do for a government. It is not professional, it is amateurish.”
GreenLeft/Labor Alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA) leader Frans Timmermans pointed out that the note was wrongly addressed, because it is not the European Commission, but the member states that decide on treaty changes.
“The chance that a treaty change will even be discussed has suddenly decreased considerably. Thank you for that,” said Timmermans.
Schoof stated that the letter was written “carefully” and “professionally” by the government.
“We are still considering whether to wait for the moment of a treaty change or ask for it ourselves,” he added.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.