Hungary and Netherlands seek opt-out from EU asylum policy

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Hungary and the Netherlands have both announced their intention to seek exemptions from the European Union’s asylum policy. In Hungary, European affairs minister Janos Boka stated that the country wants to opt out of the Dublin Regulation, the EU law governing asylum applications, citing the need for stricter national controls to safeguard public services and sovereignty. Similarly, the Dutch government, led by the far-right PVV party under Geert Wilders, is pushing for what it calls the "toughest migration policy ever."

Dutch asylum minister Marjolein Faber is advocating for a state of emergency to allow migration policy changes without parliamentary approval. Hungary, which has been issuing emergency decrees since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, is ideologically aligned with the Netherlands on this matter. Both countries hope to pressure the European Commission and other EU member states into revising the asylum rules.

Hungary has a history of ignoring EU asylum laws. The European Court of Justice has repeatedly ruled that Hungary’s border control practices are illegal, leading to fines and financial penalties. Yet, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has refused to comply with these rulings.

While the Netherlands had 38,000 asylum applications in 2023, Hungary had only 30. If the Netherlands were to succeed in closing its borders, this could create tensions with neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany, which may face increased pressure from asylum seekers.