Up to 1,700 people who had temporary residence permits in Ukraine before the war and fled to the Netherlands risk being deported to their country of origin after Monday (1 April 2024), EU Observer reports.
In early 2023, the then Dutch Minister of Migration, Eric van der Burg, announced that temporary protection for third-country nationals with temporary residence permits in Ukraine, including students who had lived and studied in the country, would end by 4 September 2023 – six months earlier than the original deadline.
Dutch authorities claimed that third-country nationals who could have safely returned to their home country had abused their hospitality. Eric van der Burg said inaction would “overburden” municipalities and promised five thousand euros ($5,422) in “remigration” compensation to those willing to leave voluntarily.
On 17 January, the Council of State ruled that the minister could not distinguish between third-country nationals and Ukrainians, as full protection was initially granted to all. It was also announced: everything that applies to Ukrainian refugees also applies to third-country nationals.
In addition, the court ruled that the Netherlands was obliged to continue granting asylum to third-country nationals until 4 March, the original deadline set by the EU at the start of the conflict in Ukraine. But the EU directive published in October does not mention third-country nationals, and therefore protection no longer applies to this category of refugees. This was a victory for the Dutch authorities, but shocking news for refugees.
According to EUObserver, measures applying to former refugees with residence permits will be tightened after 1 April 2024.
Migration remains a serious issue for the Netherlands. In last November’s parliamentary elections, voters voted in favour of Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom, a politician who is vehemently anti-migrant. Some Dutch say that resources meant for Dutch and Ukrainian refugees are being wasted on third-country nationals and that the government has the right to kick them out of the country.
