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WORLD NEWS Thursday 19 sepTember 2024
Dutch government led by hard right asks for formal opt-out from

EU migration rules

By MOLLY QUELL and RAF ise of swift, forceful action on
CASERT immigration, the letter itself
Associated Press was much more cautious.
THE HAGUE (AP) — The new It said the Netherlands would
Dutch government dominat- call for an opt-out from the
ed by the far-right party of rules “in case of (EU) treaty
Geert Wilders officially asked amendment,” a prospect
the European Union for an which is many years off, at
exemption from its migration best.
obligations on Wednesday, “An opt-out is only possible
setting up a confrontation in view of the treaty chang-
over one of the most explo- es. Important: this is a legal
sive issues facing the bloc requirement. Also in this con-
at a time when support for text, we do not expect any
anti-immigration parties in immediate changes,” said
Europe is rising. EU spokeswoman Anitta Hip-
Dutch Migration Minister per, adding that until then,
Marjolein Faber of Wilders’ migration rules remain “bind-
party wrote to the European ing on the Netherlands.”
Commission that the Neth- The last treaty change dates
erlands wants out of regula- from 2008 and there are no
tions for accepting refugees, current plans to negotiate
claiming that otherwise one a new one. Should there
of the wealthiest countries in Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, right, sits next to Health Minister Fleur Agema, center, and be an appetite for a new
the world would struggle to Climate and Green Growth Minister Sophie Hermans, left, as he listens to Dutch King Willem- treaty, all 27 member states
provide public services. Alexander outlining the new government’s policy plans and budget for the coming year in The would have to agree to give
Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.
“I have just informed the Associated Press the Netherlands special dis-
EU Commission that I want pensation.
a migration opt-out within of mini-Nexit,” a play on ernment needed to “dras- migrants who don’t qualify New figures released this
Europe for the Netherlands. “Netherlands” and “exit,” tically reduce the volume for asylum. week by the EU’s asylum
We need to be in charge and much like Brexit. He has of migration to the Nether- It echoes campaign themes agency show 17,376 people
of our own asylum policy repeatedly called for the lands, in order to continue to from across much of the EU applied for international pro-

again!” Faber said. country to depart the Euro- fulfil our constitutional duties where populist and far-right tection in the Netherlands, a
Faber was seeking to fulfill a pean Union during his three- providing for public housing, parties have surged, profit- nation of 17,7 million, in the
campaign promise to quick- decade long career but the healthcare and education.” ing from a wave of popular first six months of this year,
ly and drastically reduce the move is not currently part of On Tuesday, the govern- discontent with promises of a fairly consistent number.
number of immigrants in the any government plans. ment, which came to power tackling the migration issue That amounts to around 3%
nation. In a letter to Ylva Johans- in July, announced its poli- first and foremost. of all applications lodged
During Wednesday’s de- son, the European Com- cy blueprint for the coming Even though Faber’s party in Europe. Most of them
bate in parliament, Wilders missioner for Home Affairs, year, including stricter poli- rode to an election victory were Syrians, Iraqis or from
called the move a “a sort Faber insisted that the gov- cies to hold back or kick out last November on the prom- Turkey.q

Colombia’s president says attack on army base ‘practically ends’

peace talks with ELN rebels

By MANUEL RUEDA cess, with blood,” Petro olution. The group has an tinued to conduct kidnap- effort by Colombia’s gov-
Associated Press said during a ceremony, estimated 6,000 fighters in pings and tax civilians in ernment to start separate
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) in which he named a new Colombia and Venezuela areas under its control. The peace negotiations with
— An attack on a military judge to one of Colombia’s and finances itself through ELN has also expressed its one of its splinter groups in
base in eastern Colombia highest courts. drug trafficking and illegal frustration with a recent southwest Colombia.q
killed two soldiers and in- The National Liberation gold mines.
jured at least 21, Colom- Army, or ELN, ended a Recently the ELN has been
bia’s military said on Tues- cease-fire with the Colom- spreading into rural areas
day, as tensions escalate bian government in August, abandoned by the Revo-
between Colombia’s gov- but is still involved in peace lutionary Armed Forces of
ernment and one of the talks aimed at ending more Colombia, the large rebel
nation’s largest remaining than five decades of con- group that made a peace
rebel groups. Colombia’s flict. The army said Tuesday deal with Colombia’s gov-
military blamed the Na- that the group fired home- ernment in 2016.
tional Liberation Army for made rockets from a cargo After being elected two
the attack, with President truck that had been parked years ago, President
Gustavo Petro hinting late near a base in Puerto Jor- Gustavo Petro quickly
on Tuesday that the attack dan, a small town in Co- launched peace talks with
will lead to a suspension or lombia’s Arauca province. the ELN and several smaller
a cancellation of peace The ELN was founded in the armed groups under a pol- Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks after signing a law
talks with the rebel group. early 1960s by union lead- icy known as total peace. banning bullfighting, in La Plaza Santa Maria, Bogota, Colombia,
“This is an attack that prac- ers and university students But talks with ELN floun- on July 22, 2024.
tically closes a peace pro- inspired by the Cuban Rev- dered as the group con- Associated Press