Netherlands freezes Syrian asylum application decisions for six months

The Dutch Cabinet is imposing a six-month freeze on decisions regarding Syrians who have applied for asylum in the Netherlands, said Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber in a letter to the Tweede Kamer. Due to the fall of the Assad regime, there is too much uncertainty about the situation in the country to carefully assess asylum applications, Faber told the lower house of Parliament on Monday.

Those Syrians whose applications have been rejected will not be sent back. The Netherlands does not have diplomatic relations with Syria, and therefore there has not been a situation where people are forced to return to that country.

There are some exceptions to the so-called "determination and decision moratorium." For example, applications from those who have been granted refugee status can still be processed. Asylum applications older than 21 months will also be reviewed based on the information known at that time.

Faber wrote that the Cabinet is closely monitoring the situation and wants to gain more clarity about the consequences of the change of power in Syria.

With this decision, the Netherlands joins other countries that also announced a moratorium, such as Germany and Austria. Earlier on Monday, coalition parties PVV and VVD called on the minister to announce such a decision for the Netherlands, as well. France was also considering a similar move.

The United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway and Denmark have now also decided to postpone all decisions on Syrian asylum seekers. The Swedish Migration Agency wrote in a statement that the situation in Syria is too unclear now that rebels have taken control of the country. "It is simply not possible to determine how safe the country is at the moment, given the situation." Sweden took in the most Syrian refugees after Germany in 2015 and 2016.

The British government came to the same conclusion. However, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was a "positive sign" that many Syrians had begun to prepare to return.

Norway and Denmark also referred to the "very unclear situation" in Syria. Denmark was the first European country in 2020 to decide to reassess the residence permits of Syrians, saying parts of Syria are safe. But so far, nobody has been deported from that country.