The number of asylum applications recorded in November has dropped to those similar to July, according to a report published by the Justice and Security Ministry on Tuesday despite the backlog having grown since September.
According to the report, there were 4,484 asylum applications in November including first applications, repeated applications, and family reunification influx. The most applications sent in were in September, with a total of 5,415 applicants. From January until now, there have been a total of 44,112 applications.
However, the number of people subject to asylum applications pending at the end of the month has grown.
In September, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) had 31,805 pending asylum applications, only 180 fewer than were pending after the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, data from Eurostat shows. In November, that number reached 36,960.
Some policymakers have criticised other member states for their lack of hospitality. “According to the #Dublin agreements, asylum seekers must be received in the first EU country of arrival. Various EU member states structurally fail to comply with this agreement. That is unacceptable. It is great that there is broad support in the House to increase the pressure on these countries!” tweeted People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy MP Ruben Brekelmans last week.
The Dutch Lower House of Representatives will be having another committee meeting on immigration and asylum policy on Thursday to further discuss the situation.
(Sofia Stuart Leeson | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
