Exploding asylum figures in the Netherlands

In the first six months of 2008 just as many applications for asylum were submitted in the Netherlands as in the entire previous year. The political weekly Elsevier points out that in other countries the number of applicants for asylum is declining: "But the Netherlands - unlike all other European countries - allows Iraqis and Somalis to apply for asylum without making any distinctions. No wonder the stream of immigrants has set course for the Netherlands. ... The exploding asylum figures are a direct consequence of the cabinet's lenient and careless policy, which is being compounded by [the decisions of] misguided judges. Dutch society is paying a high price for this - financially, too. ... The government constantly tells us that a progressive European asylum policy will be the solution. But there is little to expect from this solution. The current inflow of immigrants has been caused precisely by the fact that with its unqualified admission and comparatively lax intervention policy the Netherlands is moving further and further away from the boundaries that are being drawn up around Europe."

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