‘The Netherlands, together with other member states, insists on the asylum procedure in non-EU countries’

NOS News•today, 6:55 PM

A group of EU member states, including the Netherlands, is working on a letter to the European Commission urging that migrants trying to reach the EU be accommodated in non-EU countries. This is reported by several Czech newspapers that have obtained the letter.

In the non-EU country, the migrants would then have to wait to see whether they will be granted asylum in the European Union. Asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies could also be accommodated there until their return journey.

The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security is currently unable to provide any explanation for the report from the Czech newspapers.

The idea, initiated by the Czech Republic and Denmark, is similar to the agreement Italy signed with Albania in November. In non-EU country Albania, some of the rescued boat migrants are being housed at Italy’s expense while the Italian authorities process their asylum applications.

The letter to the European Commission calls for more partnerships with countries, using the Turkey deal as an example. Concrete plans are not yet included in the letter, nor are any possible countries mentioned with which to conclude deals.

After the 2015 migration crisis, the EU made agreements for the first time on stopping migrants, at the time with Turkey. These were initially controversial, but since then agreements have been reached with Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon, among others.

There is a lot of criticism from human rights and aid organizations about outsourcing migration procedures. Amnesty International earlier this year called the deal between Italy and Albania “a harmful system”.

“Rather than adding to people’s suffering, authorities should ensure access to an effective asylum process, adequate shelter and safe, regular routes,” Amnesty said. The European Commission has so far ruled that the deal between Italy and Albania does not violate European rules.