Recently, both the Netherlands and Hungary have pushed for opt-outs from certain EU migration policies, inspired by Denmark’s long-standing arrangement. Dutch Minister for Asylum and Migration, Marjolein Faber, visited Denmark last week to study how the country manages migration autonomously while still part of the EU. Denmark’s opt-out, in place since 1992, allows it to exert greater control over its borders by abstaining from EU-wide asylum and migration policies.
Dutch Minister of Asylum, Faber, is examining ways to limit the country’s involvement in EU-wide agreements, citing concerns over the rising number of asylum seekers. However, researcher Carolus Grütters from the Centre for Migration Law at the Radboud University in Nijmegen cautions that while appealing, opt-outs pose significant challenges. He emphasizes that the EU’s collective migration policies exist to ensure shared responsibility, and breaking away from this could create divisions and complicate border management across Europe. ‘If The Netherlands wants to close its borders to refugees, for example, we have to leave the European Union. That’s the only way to avoid implementing EU migration policies,’ says Grütter.
Centre for Migration Law at the Radboud University in Nijmegen
Amidst these high-level political discussions, community-based initiatives like Bekend maakt Bemind offer a different perspective. The project, led by Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland, operates on the belief that personal connections can dispel prejudices. Translating to ‘Familiarity breeds affection,’ the initiative facilitates meetings between refugees and Dutch citizens in schools, companies, and communities. Refugees share their personal experiences, helping locals see them as individuals rather than faceless statistics, fostering empathy and understanding.
Sait Faik Gulsen and his family fled from Turkey, where Gulsen was a diplomat, to The Netherlands in 2018. Gulsen speaks for the project to various groups. Schools and companies can invite speakers from Vluchtelingenwerk to gain a personal insight into refugees and their stories.’Sometimes it’s a young student who has never seen a refugee before, or a business professional who never saw the skills and potential refugees bring with them. Those are valuable encounters’, Gulsen says.
As countries like the Netherlands and Hungary debate stricter controls and migration limits, grassroots programs such as ‘Bekend maakt Bemind’ highlight the importance of human connections in tackling prejudice. These local efforts show how personal encounters can bridge divides and create more inclusive societies, countering the broader political rhetoric surrounding migration. ‘Being part of this project is incredibly fulfilling, in the sense that I’m not only sharing my own story, I’m representing many refugees who might not have the platform to share their story’, tells Gulsen.
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