Entice countries of origin with rewards to take back asylum seekers, cabinet advisers say

The Dutch return policy has had the same problem for years. Many countries of origin do not cooperate in taking back rejected asylum seekers, making it impossible to send people back. According to the Migration Advisory Council and the International Affairs Advisory Council, it is time for a different approach.

Countries where many asylum seekers come from should be enticed with ‘partnerships’ that bring them benefits, the advisory bodies write in a joint report commissioned by the cabinet, which will be published on Monday. They spoke to more than a hundred experts, policymakers and diplomats. “If you really want more control over migration, you will have to establish close relationships with countries of origin,” say Monique Kremer (chairman of the Migration Advisory Council) and Bram van Ojik (International Affairs Advisory Council).

What is the Netherlands doing wrong?

Kremer: “We have been thinking for years that we can put pressure on countries to take back their own nationals, but that is often not possible. This is because we are always the requesting party in the negotiations. In itself a reasonable request: take back people who have exhausted all legal remedies here. Countries are obliged to do so under international agreements. However, the Netherlands has little to offer to achieve this.”

In politics in The Hague there is often a call to punish countries that do not cooperate by cutting their development budgets.

Kremer: “Yes, and that policy has not proven to be productive. Ghana previously received a reduction in its development budget of 10 million euros because it did not cooperate with return. That did not lead to better cooperation on migration. It is actually counterproductive: you deteriorate a relationship on which you depend.”

Van Ojik: “The time when Europe could say to African countries: ‘You have to do this’ is over. When we threaten to stop aid, those countries say: ‘Go ahead, the money is not that important to us.’ Developing countries receive many times more money earned and sent home by migrants in Europe than through development cooperation. So they also have an interest in migration.”

What should the Netherlands do then?

Kremer: “You should enter into partnerships in which you also have something to offer another country. In conversations with the Netherlands, these countries often ask for investments and more options for visas, labor migration and students. We have a fairly restrictive policy in Europe in these areas. You could offer countries individual relaxations.”

Are other countries already doing this?

Van Ojik: “A country like Germany concludes labor migration partnerships, with, for example, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. This means that people from those countries can legally work in Germany, but that those countries also take back asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies. There are hundreds of these types of partnerships internationally. But we have hardly been able to find any examples for the Netherlands. We are among the most reluctant countries in Europe, perhaps even the most reluctant.”

Why?

Kremer: “Dutch politics is stuck in this. Providing opportunities for more labor migration has not been done in the House of Representatives so far. Visa expansion? The parliamentary questions are already being asked if you start talking about it. Our advice to politicians is: realize that you have to enter into sustainable, more equal relationships if you want other countries to cooperate in return. And do not immediately demand that all ties must be severed if a country does something you do not agree with.”

Zoom in

The Netherlands concluded a deal with Morocco on migration – but it also stated that we are no longer allowed to interfere in ‘domestic affairs’ in Morocco. Is the Netherlands allowing itself to be silenced with these types of agreements?

Van Ojik: “The example of Morocco is fascinating. It is one of the few sustainable partnerships. But when we want to know exactly what has been agreed, we are told: ‘We cannot say that, because then we will get into a fight with Morocco and with parliament.’ We have to get rid of that secrecy.”

What are the chances that the government will act on your recommendations?

Kremer: “The Netherlands currently only has one small pilot, in which fifty Moroccan young people are allowed to study here, as part of the agreements with Morocco. But the coalition agreement does state that there will be pilots for circular labor migration. So you should look at what you can offer per country. Because just shouting louder that those countries must cooperate in return does not work.”

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