Expatica news

Fewer newcomers to face integration exam

9 August 2005

AMSTERDAM — Far fewer immigrants than initially thought will fall under the provisions of the integration law in the Netherlands, it is claimed.

The original estimate of 775,000 has been cut in half, according to newspaper ‘NRC Handelsblad’.

The paper has based its story on a confidential memorandum prepared by the director of legislation at the Ministry of Justice. Immigration and Integration Minister Rita Verdonk’s department is part of the Justice Ministry.

The NRC said Verdonk will have to radically rework her plans for an integration course and exam because the Council of State has ruled the current plan is discriminatory.

Under her original proposal everyone up to the age of 65 with less than eight years of schooling in the Netherlands would have been obliged to pass an integration exam. Certain categories of newcomers — including EU citizens — were to have an exemption.

Now Verdonk intends to further limit the obligation to undertake an integration course to people who moved here after 1975, the year Suriname gained its independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Her spokesperson has refused to comment on the NRC report because it is based on an internal government document.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news