Press Release: Dutch Presidency debate: ‘counter growing scepticism with visible results, refugee crisis top priority’

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 20.01.16
Publication Date 20/01/2016
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As part of the Dutch Presidency of the European Union for the period January-June 2016, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte presented his country's programme in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 20 January 2016.

The refugee crisis will be a top priority for the Dutch. Mr Rutte said that the agreement with Turkey needed to be carried out fast, so as to relieve pressure on the EU’s external borders. He underlined the need to make refugee reception arrangements safe, to get external borders - especially in Greece - under control, to put 'hotspots' in place and to sort out registration of refugees. 'The current numbers aren’t sustainable. We are running out of time. We need a sharp reduction in the coming six to eight weeks', he said.

Other priorities of the new Presidency include growth and employment, enhancing the stability of the Eurozone, seizing the existing opportunities in the internal market (digital and services) and cutting back 'the excessive regulations that restrict people and companies'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160114IPR09900/Dutch-Presidency-counter-scepticism-with-results-refugee-crisis-top-priority
Related Links
ESO: Key Source: The Netherlands: EU Presidency, January-June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-netherlands-eu-presidency-january-june-2016/
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
ESO: Background Information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 29 November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-29-november-2015/
ESO: Background information: Migration and UK EU referendum dominate post-summit debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-migration-and-uk-eu-referendum-dominate-post-summit-debate/
EUObserver, 20.01.16: Dutch PM: EU needs to sharply reduce refugee numbers https://euobserver.com/political/131921
Netherlands: EU Presidency: News, 20.01.16: Prime Minister Mark Rutte to address European Parliament http://english.eu2016.nl/latest/news/2016/01/20%5B2%5D/prime-minister-mark-rutte-to-address-european-parliament

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