A Dutch opt-out on asylum is impossible
The Dutch government intends to submit a ‘clause’ to the European Commission to achieve an opt-out to EU asylum policy. In this way, the Dutch government seeks to have the strictest asylum policy ever.
Mark Klaassen assistant professor of Immigration law, explains to Euronews that the Dutch government’s ambition to opt out of the EU asylum policy is impossible. An opt-out requires a treaty amendment in which all member states must unanimously agree with the Dutch initiative.
Klaassen believes that the Dutch government also understands that an opt-out is impossible, because it would undermine the basic idea behind European cooperation in the area of asylum, namely the creation of a Common European Asylum System. The recently adopted Migration Pact actually endorsed this basis idea.