The seriousness of the situation in Ter Apel is now abundantly clear to everyone. The fact that people in the Netherlands have to sleep outside naturally requires a response from the cabinet, and it is finally here. However, the asylum agreement that has now been concluded in the cabinet and to which D66 puts its signature completely misses the point. It does not tackle the core of the current problem and thus does not prevent similar dramas in the future.
Moreover, the agreement is a missed opportunity to now take the step forward that the Dutch asylum reception needs. With this agreement, D66 gives in to populist screamers in the asylum debate and conservative convulsions within this cabinet.
About the authors
Joris Hetterscheid is the current chairman of the Young Democrats. Kalle Duvekot is the future chairman of the Young Democrats.
The disgrace of Ter Apel has been going on for much longer than in recent weeks. Report after report has been published for years about abuses in the asylum reception. People in Ter Apel have been sleeping outside for much longer. The fact that the government is only acting now seems to be more out of shame for the current criticism than out of dissatisfaction with the policy pursued. Where governing should be foresight, it has degenerated into reaction.
Symptom control
Now that would be less of a problem if the measures that are now being taken were actually sufficient in tackling the problems in the asylum reception. What is being done now, however, is, at best, symptomatic relief, and could itself do even more damage in the long run.
The problem in Ter Apel is more complicated than ‘there are too many people’. Compared to the beginning of this century and 2015, the migration flow now coming to the Netherlands is not exceptionally high. The deeper cause is that we in the Netherlands have not learned from previous crises and are still not delighted with humane asylum reception.
Instead of falling back on the familiar refuges of the long-standing conservative asylum policy, D66 should have fought for a progressive, progressive and future-proof vision. Take more control in housing status holders in order to distribute the burden fairly, more money to COA and IND and many more permanent registration locations. Instead, the problem of lengthy procedures is now being addressed with even longer procedures.
family reunification
The policy of recent years has only revolved around deterring refugees as much as possible, and instead of turning that around, the government is now only going to focus more on that. The fact that a few extra locations are now being added is nice, but the scandalous stop of family reunions almost negates all the humane progress that is being made. Stopping immigration in response to every hitch in the asylum reception center should no longer be the reflex of our politicians. We can accommodate more people in the Netherlands, in a way that will benefit us all. All that is required is political will, which is lacking in this cabinet.
Ultimately, Dutch people who believe that our asylum reception can and should be more humane, people who believe that good asylum reception makes an essential contribution to our future, are left frustrated. The people who use these kinds of crises to live up to their right-conservative ulterior motives, instead of actually doing something for people in need, seem to have won again.
The concerns we had about the conservative cloud over this cabinet seem to be becoming reality in the area of asylum. Fortunately, criticism of this plan is growing within all coalition parties. That criticism is justified and must also be heard by D66. This asylum agreement is unworthy of a progressive party and an outrageous bow to right-wing populist opportunism. We know that we are not alone within D66 when we call for a real solution to be found as quickly as possible.