Dutch Secretary of State Van der Burg Allows Reception of Third-Country Nationals in Light of EU Court Questions

Cities must continue to receive so-called third-country nationals at this time and give them the same rights as other refugees from Ukraine. This is what Secretary of State Van der Burg from Asylum and Migration writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.

Van der Burg says that he has to make this decision because the Council of State has sent questions about the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The highest administrative court said today from the European Court to know when the right of residence of third-country nationals ends. Until a response is received, ongoing business at the Council of State has been suspended.

Third-country nationals are people who do not have Ukrainian nationality but have had asylum or a permanent residence permit in Ukraine. According to Van der Burg, the renewed reception of this group of refugees will last at least until the European Court has given an answer. There is no telling when that will happen.

The Secretary of State has notified the towns of the decision. Due to the ongoing legal procedures, many towns no longer knew exactly what to do. Some cities ended the reception of third-country nationals at the beginning of this month, as originally planned. Others chose to receive the refugees anyway.

The Safety Council and the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) are pleased that Van der Burg’s letter provides clarity. “This line provides clarity for both municipalities and third-country nationals at this time,” a spokesperson told ANP.

Only third-country nationals still in the Netherlands will receive asylum from the municipalities again. People who have already left the Netherlands cannot get asylum again.