Proposal to Deport Asylum Seekers to Uganda
The leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, has put forth a controversial proposal to transport rejected asylum seekers from the Netherlands to an East African nation. This announcement came as leaders of far-right parties convened in Brussels in anticipation of the European Council summit scheduled for Thursday.
Upon his arrival at the Maison de Hongrie in the Belgian capital, Wilders expressed his thoughts to reporters, stating, “My party is contemplating, following a visit to Uganda, that we could send individuals to that country after all the necessary procedures have been completed in the Netherlands, rather than allowing them to remain in Holland, often illegally.” His remarks highlight a significant shift in the party’s stance on migration policies.
Wilders believes that the Dutch coalition government, which includes his Party for Freedom, is in the process of developing plans to tighten the country’s immigration policy. Under the proposed scheme, asylum seekers from African nations who have exhausted all legal options to remain in the Netherlands would be deported to Uganda. This plan was initially introduced on Wednesday by Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Reinette Klever, during her working visit to Uganda. Wilders noted that while the plan is still “in its early stages,” the Ugandan government has shown no opposition to it and will be compensated financially in exchange for hosting these individuals.
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Support for the Italy-Albania Protocol
Wilders and other leaders from the Patriots group also expressed their support for the recently established Italy-Albania protocol, which they view as an innovative approach to managing migration. This protocol allows for the processing of asylum seekers in designated centers located in Albania while they await decisions from Italian authorities. The initiative commenced this week with the transfer of 12 asylum seekers.
Wilders commended the Italians for their proactive measures, stating, “I’m proud of the Italians for how they handle this situation, and I believe many other countries should take note.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described the agreement as a “good one,” while Marine Le Pen, the President of France’s Rassemblement National, remarked that “any effort aimed at reducing irregular immigration and effectively managing the flows is a step in the right direction.”
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Lack of Trust in the EU Commission
During the meeting, Le Pen voiced her skepticism regarding the EU’s ability to address migration issues effectively. Although she acknowledged the positive actions of certain national governments, she expressed distrust toward the EU Commission. The Commission has outlined ten key focus points for discussion relating to migration, including fostering partnerships with non-EU countries and enhancing the repatriation of migrants, potentially through the establishment of return hubs outside the EU.
However, Le Pen believes these measures do not go far enough, stating, “So far, I have yet to see any clear and concrete proposals. These remain vague intentions. And given the Commission’s ideological inclination towards immigration, I lack confidence in their ability to resolve the problem.” The statement released following the Patriots’ meeting underscored the belief that “protecting the external borders of the EU is a duty” and criticized the Commission’s “policy of promoting uncontrolled immigration.”
This gathering marked the inaugural meeting of the Patriots group, which comprises 11 political parties from various EU nations. The leaders expressed their desire to make this a regular fixture before each Council summit, signaling a coordinated effort to influence immigration policy at the European level.
