Dutch King Willem-Alexander spoke from the throne at the opening of the new parliamentary session in The Hague on Tuesday to present the government’s policy plans and budget for 2024. He placed special emphasis on keeping migration under control, citing faster-than-expected population growth and the consequential pressure on public services and “the way of life of our society,” reports Hungarian news outlet Magyar Nemzet.
The government is purportedly doing everything in its power to reduce the number of asylum applications as quickly as possible, as the country grapples with an overflow of refugees, family reunifications, guest workers, and foreigners studying in the Netherlands.
“To this end, asylum procedures must be accelerated and special facilities must be created for those who have little chance of obtaining a residence permit. Immediate sanctions should be introduced against people from safe countries who engage in anti-social behavior,” he said.
Willem-Alexander also said the government is developing a temporary refugee crisis law to reduce the number of asylum seekers, making agreements with other countries to stop human trafficking and smuggling, and help eliminate illegal migration routes.
“The Netherlands is pushing hard for progress on these issues in Europe as well. Before the introduction of the new EU migration and asylum pact in 2026, the Netherlands will introduce a much stricter reception system. Failure to cooperate in being turned away will be a criminal offense and the conditions for obtaining a Dutch passport will be tightened,” he announced.
The Dutch monarch also spoke about how most of society’s main problems, including migration, the state of agriculture, and the shrinking housing market, stem from “too many rules and too much complexity of procedures.”
“Things that should be very normal, such as a roof over our heads, adequate income or a familiar living environment, are increasingly disappearing. This uncertainty undermines people’s independence, which in turn leads to irritability and a loss of solidarity,” he added.
King Willem-Alexander said the Netherlands must simplify the rules and provide more space and security for citizens, and this requires good governance and a better rule of law.
