The two largest coalition partners held their congress simultaneously today, both also in Rotterdam. The differences between the two sides have been evident for years on the asylum issue. Where tension has increased at the VVD, the credo at D66 is that the new law can “finally bring peace” to the asylum chain.
Support the distribution law
The news that the VVD still supports the distribution law caused some excitement in the room where D66 members were holding a session on asylum policy. D66 is not dissatisfied with the new asylum law. They are concerned that there is no adequate shelter for the people who have fled. Some point out that the good and quick reception of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees has been successful. “So it’s possible” is the sigh.
The panel discussion will address questions as to why there are so many obstacles in politics, while the Dutch are hospitable. Or that ‘we still recognize the current situation as a crisis’, because a new law will be introduced but the problems are far from solved.
Fun
D66 MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld finds “the lack of coherence in the VVD amusing”. In the Netherlands, the VVD is against the distribution of asylum seekers and the coercion that goes with it, but in the European Union, the VVD wants to enforce better distribution among member states, she says. It produces laughter in the room.
In ‘t Veld wishes VVD leader and Prime Minister Mark Rutte every success in his promised efforts to limit the influx of asylum seekers. He underlined that it was agreed more than twenty years ago that the European Union has a common responsibility for asylum policy.
Unequal distribution
Yet each country goes its own way, countries do not respect the agreements and Brussels does not apply them, he says. This leads to unequal distribution across Europe. According to In ‘t Veld, many asylum seekers simply want to go to Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. But if asylum seekers were better distributed in Europe, there would be no reception and integration problems in those countries.
Furthermore, it “cannot accept” that it is too full, as right-wing parties often say. He points to the hundreds of thousands of vacancies, even in other countries.