This is apparent from a representative poll by Ipsos commissioned by aid organization Connect International. Of the more than 3000 respondents, 67 percent see a benefit in reception in the region, possibly with the option of applying for asylum there. The percentage is almost evenly distributed among voters of different political parties. Only 12 percent of the poll participants don’t like this solution; 21 percent are neutral about it.
It is exactly the confirmation that director Tom de Veer of Connect International is looking for. He is trying to get politicians excited about his idea: linking development aid to reception in the region. The model: making agreements about orderly reception in exchange for a basic income for the local population. According to De Veer, such cash transfers have a spectacular effect on the local economy, reducing poverty and the number of births.
“It not only helps the people who would otherwise come to the Netherlands, but also the 85 percent who do not have the money,” says De Veer, whose organization has researched this reception model for seven years. The Netherlands should help in organizing the structural reception.
De Veer realizes that left-wing and right-wing voters have different motives for warming up to reception in the region. “A PVV voter is more likely to think: as long as they don’t come here, while a GL would rather argue that reception in the region is more humane – whatever it is.”
Attitude
The study also looked at attitudes towards migrant workers. This picture is not entirely positive, despite the tight labor market. Just like with humanitarian refugees, origin plays a role in this. The Dutch are moderately positive about labor migrants from Europe, less about those from outside. Most participants, about 40 percent, only want to admit labor migrants with essential professions to the Netherlands. On this point, attitudes are fairly evenly distributed among the parties, although slightly less represented at GL. Only 5 percent want to bring more European and non-European labor migrants to the Netherlands.
De Veer hopes that the level of knowledge of MPs about migration will improve. “It would be best if there was structural consultation between politicians, experts and stakeholders, as happened with the climate tables. It is striking that most parties find the current policy a dead end.” The same is true for the Dutch population: the migration policy can only count on support from a quarter of the population.