Refugees and migration
Development aid plays a role in reducing migration flows to Europe. The Netherlands helps refugees build a life in their own region. It also works with countries of origin and transit countries to combat people smuggling and trafficking. And prevent people from having to undertake dangerous journeys to Europe in search of a better life.
Reception in the region
The Netherlands contributes to better reception for refugees in and around conflict regions: in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and the countries surrounding Afghanistan and Ukraine. For example by offering refugees protection and improving access to education and work. The Netherlands mainly does this through the PROSPECTS Partnership. This is a programme run by UNICEF, UNHCR, the ILO, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation and local organisations.
The Netherlands also supports programmes in the areas of food security and water management. For example by training farmers or supplying better seeds for more productive crops. The Netherlands also contributes to programmes that encourage more economical use of water and ensure that countries are better prepared for disasters.
Refugees are more likely to stay in their own region if there are better reception facilities and they have the chance to build a livelihood.
Cooperation with countries of origin and transit countries
The Netherlands cooperates with countries where many migrants come from. And countries that many migrants travel through on their way to Europe, such as Morocco and Nigeria. The Netherlands works with these countries on issues like:
- returning people staying in the Netherlands illegally to their country of origin;
- combating irregular migration, to prevent migrants without valid documents from travelling to the Netherlands;
- offering protection to migrants.
Solutions for migration control
The government is also working on new solutions to manage migration more effectively. It is doing this independently and with other EU countries. For example, the Netherlands is exploring the use of return hubs, where migrants who are not allowed to stay in the Netherlands can be safely accommodated.
Central government is also looking at where Dutch efforts can align with EU partnerships with migration countries so that the Netherlands can achieve more with the same investment.
Importance to the Netherlands
The number of refugees worldwide is growing due to conflicts, instability and natural disasters. Many young people are leaving their own countries because there isn’t enough work for them there. This has an impact on the Netherlands, for instance, because it leads to overcrowding in reception centres for asylum seekers. The Netherlands is therefore committed to improving reception in the region and opportunities for young people, so that fewer refugees and migrants decide to undertake a dangerous journey to Europe, for example.