The Netherlands has become the first EU country to demand an opt-out from migration rules, citing concerns over its ability to provide essential services to citizens. This unprecedented move comes as the Dutch government,

The new Dutch government dominated by the far-right party of Geert Wilders has officially asked the European Union for an exemption from its migration obligations.

The four-party coalition in the Netherlands, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, has promised to build up the "strictest asylum regime ever."

The Netherlands submitted a request to the European Commission on Wednesday to obtain an opt-out clause from standard EU asylum rules. Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber said, 'The

Wilders has said he wants the Netherlands to become less attractive to asylum-seekers, adding that "people in Africa and the Middle East will start thinking they might be better off elsewhere". The Dutch coalition parties have said they also want to curb ...

The Dutch government asked the European Union to opt out of its migration and asylum agreement as the new right-wing cabinet pushes for the country’s strictest ever immigration policies.

The Netherlands' right-wing government said on Wednesday it had asked the EU for an opt-out on migration rules so it can implement a clamp-down on unwanted arrivals. "I just informed @EU_commission that I want a migration opt-out for the Netherlands within Europe.

The Netherlands announced Wednesday that it had requested from Brussels an opt-out from the European Union's rules on asylum, days after the coalition government unveiled the country's toughest-ever immigration policy.