The Labor Party (PvdA) wants to make it easier for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria to apply for a visa. This is what PvdA MP Kati Piri tells BNR political journalist Sophie van Leeuwen. Interested Turks and Syrians must be able to come to the Netherlands for a period of 90 days on a visa to visit family.
The PvdA’s appeal follows after Germany and Belgium have already started issuing visas to interested Turks and Syrians faster. Above all, Germany wants a less bureaucratic process, now that many people have lost their passports and German consulates are difficult to reach.
The PvdA wants the Netherlands to follow the German and Belgian lead, it turned out from parliamentary questions which MP Kati Piri introduced on Saturday.
Family visit
According to Piri, this accelerated visa application is intended for earthquake victims who already have family in the Netherlands. “With a visa like this, they can take a break here, with relatives, with a roof over their heads.”
Piri points out that these people are always free to apply for a 90-day visa. “It just took a lot longer and was a lot more bureaucratic.”
Member of Parliament PvdA acknowledges that the earthquake damage will probably still be far from being resolved after three months. According to Piri, the possibility cannot be ruled out that after three months some of these people will still apply for asylum in the Netherlands. “But to say: ‘leave them out in the cold’ seems inhuman to me. Allow these people to suffer together for a while.’
Hoekstra: research first
Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra told WNL on Sunday that he wants to investigate the measure first. He promises the cabinet will “explore all the byways” when it comes to helping affected Turks and Syrians.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
