Refugees could be sent back to Syria from the Netherlands as early as the end of this year under a new law.
The Asylum Emergency Measures Act has been tabled by the Dutch coalition dominated by hard-right nationalists led by Geert Wilders, who won elections last year.
Under the plan, leaked to the Dutch state broadcaster the NOS, national policy on Syria will be “significantly tightened”, with the designation of safe regions “this year, if possible” allowing new asylum seekers to be sent back.
• Anti-migrant anger flows along the Danube
By the end of next month the Netherlands could also reintroduce border controls on its frontiers with Germany and Belgium. “Irregular migrants”, including those who have already applied for asylum in another country, will