NOS News•today, 8:15 PM•Amended today, 11:30 PM
Municipalities must continue to receive so-called third-country nationals for the time being and give them the same rights as other refugees from Ukraine. This is what outgoing State Secretary Van der Burg of Asylum and Migration writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Van der Burg says he is forced to make this decision because the Council of State has asked questions about the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The highest administrative judge said today that he wants to know from the European Court when the right of residence of third-country nationals ends. Until an answer is received, ongoing proceedings at the Council of State have been paused.
Third-country nationals are people who do not have Ukrainian nationality but who did have asylum or a permanent residence permit in Ukraine. According to Van der Burg, the renewed reception of this group of refugees will at least last until the European Court has provided an answer. It is not known when that will happen.
‘Provides clarity for the time being’
The State Secretary has informed municipalities about the decision. Due to the ongoing legal procedures, many municipalities no longer knew exactly what to do. Some municipalities ended the reception of third-country nationals at the beginning of this month, as was originally the plan. Others chose to receive the refugees anyway.
The Safety Council and the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) are pleased that Van der Burg’s letter provides clarity. “This line provides clarity for both municipalities and third-country nationals for the time being,” a spokesperson told ANP.
And the Council for Refugees is also pleased with the decision. According to the aid organization, “the unnecessary burden on the judiciary” will come to an end.
“The issue surrounding the reception of third-country nationals has been very complicated from the start and we understand that,” the Council for Refugees said. “Yet we once again saw a chaotic situation arise in which municipalities, third-country nationals and the judiciary suffered, which could very well have been prevented,” the Council for Refugees said.
Only third-country nationals who are still in the Netherlands can receive shelter from the municipalities again. People who have already left the Netherlands cannot receive shelter again.
