Netherlands to Reinstate Border Checks in December

Dive Right Into

Key Takeaways

The Netherlands will start land border checks on December 9, 2024, led by the far-right Party for Freedom.
Motivated by irregular migration and human trafficking, the checks focus on borders with Germany and Belgium for six months.
Challenges include limited resources, minimal disruption of cross-border movement, and compliance with EU Schengen rules.

The Netherlands 🇳🇱 is set to start new land border checks beginning December 9, 2024. This marks an important change in how the country manages its borders. The move is part of a larger effort by the Dutch government, led by the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), to manage irregular immigration and human trafficking. It follows similar actions by neighboring countries like Germany 🇩🇪 and reflects a growing anti-immigration sentiment across Europe 🇪🇺.

Background and Context

Netherlands to Reinstate Border Checks in December

The decision to reintroduce border checks in the Netherlands is part of a broader EU trend. Many countries are tightening immigration controls because they feel internal security and public order might be at risk. The Schengen Area allows for passport-free travel across most of Europe. But under EU law, countries can temporarily bring back border checks when there are serious threats like terrorism or large-scale irregular migration. These actions must be limited in time and justified.

The Dutch government decided to do this, following the framework of the Schengen rules. Migration Minister Marjolein Faber announced that the checks would last for six months, with a chance to extend them. The focus will be on land borders with Germany and Belgium 🇧🇪. The Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military, will carry out these inspections.

Motivations Behind the Policy

Several reasons are driving the Dutch government to reintroduce border controls:

Irregular Migration: There’s a concern over migrants entering the Netherlands without proper documents. Even though official asylum figures show a drop in recent months, the government believes irregular migration is still a big issue. Many of these migrants are thought to have applied for asylum in other EU countries before coming to the Netherlands.
Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is another major concern. The government hopes stricter border controls will make it harder for traffickers to move people without detection.
Political Pressure: The Party for Freedom (PVV) has long promoted stricter immigration rules. Its leader, Geert Wilders, has been pushing for closed borders for over a decade. The party’s success in the past elections has given it much influence over government policy. Wilders praised the new border measures as proof his party is meeting its promises to voters.
European Trends: The Netherlands is not making this move alone. Germany began similar border checks in September 2024 after extremist attacks. France 🇫🇷 and other EU countries have also tightened their borders due to security threats and migration pressures.

Implementation and Challenges

Even though the Dutch government has outlined its plans, there are several challenges:

Limited Resources: A big issue is the lack of extra funding or staff for these new measures. Minister Faber said the Marechaussee will have to conduct the checks “within existing capacity.” This could strain resources since there are hundreds of land border crossings between the Netherlands and its neighbors.
Minimizing Disruption: The government aims to cause as little disruption as possible. Faber mentioned efforts would be made to ensure that economic traffic and cross-border commuters face minimal hindrance. But given the volume of cross-border movement, especially within the Schengen Area, this might be challenging.
Spot Checks vs. Systematic Controls: Currently, Dutch police conduct spot checks at various border points. It’s unclear if this method will continue or if more systematic controls will be applied. This unclear plan raises questions about the checks’ effectiveness.

Legal Framework and Compliance with EU Law

EU law for Schengen countries requires states to notify Brussels at least four weeks before any internal border control comes back. The Netherlands has met this requirement. However, EU rules also say such measures should be a last resort and proportionate to the threat.

Critics of the Dutch decision argue it might not meet these criteria since asylum numbers are decreasing. Some wonder if irregular migration is really the “exceptional situation” that warrants such action. Still, supporters argue that even fewer asylum seekers can be a challenge if entering irregularly or moving again after applying for asylum in another EU country.

Broader Implications

Introducing border checks in December is likely to have broader effects:

Impact on Schengen: The Schengen Area is one of the EU’s most valued achievements. It allows free movement across much of Europe without passport controls. However, recent years have seen much pressure on this system due to migration crises and security concerns. The Netherlands’ decision adds to fears Schengen could become more fragmented as other countries take similar actions.
Political Ramifications: Domestically, the move strengthens far-right parties like the PVV, which have made immigration control a key part of their platform. It also reflects broader political trends in Europe where populist parties are gaining ground by playing on fears about immigration and security.
Economic Consequences: While efforts will be made to reduce disruptions to trade and travel, any border control leads to delays and complications. This could affect businesses that depend on smooth cross-border operations within Europe’s single market.

Conclusion

The Netherlands implementing land border checks from December 9 marks an important development in its immigration policy. Driven by concerns about irregular migration and human trafficking, this move reflects wider political dynamics both within the country and across Europe.

As other EU nations like Germany take similar steps, questions remain about how these policies will affect Schengen’s future and whether they can effectively address security threats without undermining European unity. As reported by VisaVerge.com, immigration is likely to stay a challenging issue in Dutch politics, especially as parties like the PVV push for even more strict controls on border entry and residency.

For more details on immigration laws and Schengen regulations, you can visit the European Commission’s Schengen Rules page. This official link provides all guidelines related to Schengen countries.

Through these planned borders checks, the Netherlands aims to manage immigration challenges while balancing the need for security with economic realities. How this will evolve remains a question, reflecting broader changes in Europe’s approach to immigration control.

Learn Today

Irregular Migration: Movement of people that occurs outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit, or receiving countries.
Party for Freedom (PVV): A Dutch far-right political party known for its anti-immigration stance and influence on government policy.
Schengen Area: A zone comprising 27 European countries that have abolished passport control at their mutual borders for free movement.
Marechaussee: A branch of the Dutch military responsible for duties including border security and immigration control.
Human Trafficking: The illegal trade of people for the purposes of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation.

This Article in a Nutshell

The Netherlands will reinstate border checks in December 2024, led by the far-right PVV, aiming to curb irregular immigration and human trafficking. This mirrors actions in neighboring Germany. As Europe’s anti-immigration sentiment grows, these measures highlight the continent’s struggle to balance security with open-border ideals, affecting Schengen’s future.
— By VisaVerge.com