Netherlands: More limits on asylum right of appeal
01 May 1999
The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to reduce the right of appeal for asylum seekers. The new proposals outlined by junior minister Cohen to the cabinet will remove any administrative right of appeal, forcing asylum seekers to seek a judicial review after their initial appeal has been turned down. Under the new measures the number of categories of asylum seeker will be reduced from three to one. Recognised asylum seekers will be granted a temporary residence permit which can be made permanent after three years. This permit will include the right to work, housing and family reunion. Rejected asylum seekers will be allowed to appeal to the courts. Deportation would then follow if the court rejected this appeal. Subsequent appeals to the Supreme Court would not, in principle, allow deportation to be suspended. This would considerably reduce the length of the asylum procedure.