Following the example of other European Union member states, Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders called for parts of Syria to be also designated as “safe” by the Netherlands, in order to further reduce the intake of migrants from the Middle East—while increasing deportations.
While other EU leaders equivocate on deporting Syrians, even ones who commit horrific crimes, Wilders is working on a solution. In a post on X, he argued that since other countries have changed Syria’s designation as well, there’s no reason for the Netherlands to continue automatically granting asylum to Syrians either.
