State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum and Migration) hopes that his law on spreading asylum reception can come into effect this year. The cabinet approved the bill today. It now goes to the House of Representatives.
The NOS reported earlier this week that the new version of the ‘distribution law’ hardly differs from the previous one. The intention is still for municipalities to make agreements per province about the number of asylum seekers they will receive. Municipalities can come up with plans themselves.
If they don’t, the cabinet can eventually force them to cooperate. There is also a kind of bonus system for municipalities that do more than is strictly necessary. “This does not mean that there will be an asylum seekers center in every municipality, but it may also mean that in five out of ten there is and in the other five out of ten something else,” Van der Burg explained.
‘Effective the Friday after the Senate has agreed’
It was initially intended that the distribution law would take effect on 1 January of this year, but that has not succeeded due to all kinds of discussions between the coalition parties. The state secretary said the law will come into force “the Friday after it has been passed by the Senate.” He’d be surprised if that wasn’t until next year. He acknowledged that in the spring and summer, the law will no longer help to spread asylum seekers across the country.
Van der Burg is optimistic that his law will pass in both Chambers. By the time the Senate goes to vote on the law, BBB may be the largest party there. According to the latest prognosis of the ANP, BBB can win 17 seats in the Senate elections on 30 May. The government coalition of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie amounts to 22 in that prognosis.
When asked whether there is still room for negotiation, the State Secretary replied that he will now first enter into discussions with the House of Representatives: “Assuming that the law will pass, I will then see where I can get majorities in the Senate.”
According to Van der Burg, a fair distribution across the country should appeal to parties. “Certainly parties like PvdA and GroenLinks.” And he thinks BBB should be sensitive that it’s not just counties in the north and east that need to do things.
Criticism Council of State not accepted due to political weighting
Last month, the Council of State, the cabinet’s highest advisory body, said the plan was “unnecessarily complex”. Van der Burg thinks that the law will not pass the House of Representatives if the cabinet were to adopt the Council of State’s advice one-on-one.
And according to Deputy Prime Minister Kaag, adjustments such as the Council proposes would “disturb a precarious balance, which actually creates support”. Kaag added that that “ultimately is a political weighting”.
PvdA and GroenLinks called it unprecedented today that the State Secretary has done nothing with the criticism from the Council of State and with “alarming signals from the implementers that this law is not going to work”. The two parties are announcing a vigorous debate with the cabinet, with the aim of a working distribution law.
BBB leader Van der Plas repeated this morning on NPO Radio 1 that she is “certainly” against the bill for the time being: “Many municipalities and provinces now have a clear urgency to cooperate in asylum reception”.
Van der Plas wondered whether Van der Burg’s optimism is realistic. She will soon talk to the Secretary of State. Volt also announced today that it is against the proposal.
The municipalities are also still very critical of the effectiveness and feasibility.
- The Distribution Act remains unchanged and cannot enter into force until 2024
- Council of State critical of ‘unnecessarily complex’ asylum seekers distribution law
