The Netherlands has the authority to cease providing asylum to foreign nationals who fled Ukraine due to military actions, reports NOS.
Asylum for foreigners from Ukraine: final court decision
The Minister for Migration and Asylum, Marjolein Faber, has the right to stop accepting foreigners who arrived from Ukraine.
This decision was made by the Dutch Council of State, the highest administrative court in the country, confirming a previous ruling from the European Court of Justice.
Foreign citizens who were living in Ukraine at the onset of the war are referred to as “third persons”.
This includes students and workers who found themselves in Ukraine at the time of the invasion. They, like Ukrainians, sought refuge in Europe.
Among these individuals are those from Algeria, Turkey, and Pakistan. Approximately 1900 such individuals arrived in the Netherlands last year.
Some of them expressed a desire to remain in the Netherlands under temporary protection, similar to Ukrainian refugees.
However, over the past years, courts have issued varying rulings regarding their legal status, leading to legal uncertainty.
Now, the highest court has put an end to this issue, deciding that the Netherlands is not obligated to provide asylum to “third persons”.
Nevertheless, this decision has not yet come into effect.
The Association of Municipalities in the Netherlands announced that “third persons” will not be evicted from temporary shelters and will remain there until an official announcement by the minister regarding the date of cessation of their intake.
“The Council of State's decision is good news. If you no longer have the right to reside, you must leave the country. I will address this issue,” wrote Faber.
Why do the Netherlands not want to accept Ukrainian refugees?
The situation regarding the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands is becoming critical. Overcrowded shelters and limited resources are leading to an increase in refusals of asylum to those seeking it.
This crisis not only jeopardizes the well-being of thousands of people but also creates significant challenges for Dutch society.