DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

20 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Europe has six to eight weeks to reduce refugee levels: Dutch PM

January 20, 2016

The Netherland's Prime Minister Rutte addresses the European Parliament in StrasbourgThe EU needs to reduce the number of refugees coming to Europe within six to eight weeks, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told members of the European parliament on Wednesday.

‘Let me be clear. The current numbers are not sustainable. We are running out of time,’ Rutte said in a speech outlining the Dutch priorities as EU president. ‘We need a sharp reduction in the number of refugees in the coming six to eight weeks.’

‘So it is both logical and necessary that we devote a lot of time and energy to the refugee crisis in the months ahead.’

Grand visions

It is crucial that Europe’s borders are under control, especially in Greece, and that the registration of refugees is sorted out ‘so that every country can play its part’, Rutte said.

In addition, he said, ‘it is crucial that the agreements we made with Turkey late last year are carried out fast, to relieve the pressure on our external borders’.

The Dutch prime minister went on to say that the Netherlands will put the Dutch tradition of consultation and coalition building to good use. ‘Europe doesn’t need new lofty ideals or grand visions. It needs results.’ he said.

‘It needs to deliver. And for that, we first need to follow up on what we’ve agreed. Keeping promises and sticking to agreements should be the new normal in Europe. A deal is a deal.’

The full speech (in English)

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Europe Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
The big election issues: climate change and the environment
Hundreds gather for Amsterdam's second "No Kings" protest
Ajax's home defeat to AZ fuels speculation over Heitinga future
Dutch intelligence services now share less information with US
Podcast: The Ratterdam Night Watch Edition
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now