Old article, but I found an interesting part in between all the nostalgia and conservatism
>**Inclusive nationalism**
>Ladies and gentlemen,
>With the current migration policy, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. It needs to be overhauled. But let me be clear: we need migration. We need a different migration policy that focuses on legal, active migration.
>The European Union has been struggling with a demographic deficit since 2012. If we want to achieve more growth and prosperity, we will therefore have to look at active migration. Migration that strengthens our labour market.
>Today, for the sake of clarity, we do not have that. One in three non-EU citizens with a residence permit has come here for family reunification. Only one in five is here for labour migration.
>This has consequences. The employment rate of non-EU citizens is significantly lower than that of EU citizens, which is already not high enough. The target of 80 per cent employment is not being met in many EU countries. The Netherlands is achieving this target – congratulations on that – but Belgium, to take another example at random, is not yet.
>In addition, there is a wide gap in the employment rate of women from non-EU countries. Less than 6 out of 10 of them are in work. In Belgium, this figure is even less than half.
>The legal migration that we organise today therefore does not sufficiently meet the needs of our labour market.
>A new migration model will lead to better opportunities for newcomers, whose talents and experience will contribute more to our prosperity.
>It will also lead to more economic growth and a more positive image of migration among our citizens.
>This more positive image is really important, because we must not be mistaken: our citizens are particularly hospitable.
>Even though all the barometers indicate that public support for the uncontrolled influx of asylum seekers and illegal migrants has been reached, there remains a clear awareness that we need legal, active migration.
>The recent migration report by the Social and Cultural Planning Office clearly indicates that there is a large majority in the Netherlands in favour of selective labour migration.
>This is also the case in Belgium. A similar study by Randstad, conducted by labour market expert Jan Denys in collaboration with Professor Mark Elchardus, indicates that 6 out of 10 Belgians are in favour of labour migration to keep our economy running.
>If we look at the requirements our citizens impose on newcomers, it boils down to inclusive nationalism. We define the values of our identity as responsible citizenship, knowledge of our language, and respect for our values.
>In the Dutch report, more than 7 out of 10 Dutch people say that someone does not have to be born here to earn Dutch citizenship.
>So you can become Flemish, Walloon or Dutch. The rest is fate.
>Those who advocate open borders or exclusive, ethnic nationalism are therefore out of touch with how the average citizen feels about migration and what our economy needs.
>Such political forces offer us no prospects for the future. But if, on the other hand, we work on a new migration model, it will benefit our citizens, benefit newcomers, and benefit our prosperity.
At least he came out against ethnic nationalism, and he recognises that you don’t have to be born in Flanders to be Flemish (although I think some of his voters would disagree). However, he won’t say Belgian. I think he wants the United Kingdom of the Netherlands back with Dutch, Flemish and Walloon identities open to immigrants to integrate into.
schildmanbijter on
100 miljoen Nederlanders! Te beginnen met de Belgen
DiscussionJohnThread on
> One in three non-EU citizens with a residence permit has come here for family reunification. Only one in five is here for labour migration.
> This has consequences. The employment rate of non-EU citizens is significantly lower than that of EU citizens, which is already not high enough.
Separate point from the article, but I absolutely hate when politicians tag on family reunification visa schemes, then do absolutely nothing about getting rid of red tape to let those on family visas work easier.
I’ve looked into it before with some personal experience, and holy SHIT it is such an extra bureaucratic burden to get family members the right to be economically independent.
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Old article, but I found an interesting part in between all the nostalgia and conservatism
>**Inclusive nationalism**
>Ladies and gentlemen,
>With the current migration policy, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. It needs to be overhauled. But let me be clear: we need migration. We need a different migration policy that focuses on legal, active migration.
>The European Union has been struggling with a demographic deficit since 2012. If we want to achieve more growth and prosperity, we will therefore have to look at active migration. Migration that strengthens our labour market.
>Today, for the sake of clarity, we do not have that. One in three non-EU citizens with a residence permit has come here for family reunification. Only one in five is here for labour migration.
>This has consequences. The employment rate of non-EU citizens is significantly lower than that of EU citizens, which is already not high enough. The target of 80 per cent employment is not being met in many EU countries. The Netherlands is achieving this target – congratulations on that – but Belgium, to take another example at random, is not yet.
>In addition, there is a wide gap in the employment rate of women from non-EU countries. Less than 6 out of 10 of them are in work. In Belgium, this figure is even less than half.
>The legal migration that we organise today therefore does not sufficiently meet the needs of our labour market.
>A new migration model will lead to better opportunities for newcomers, whose talents and experience will contribute more to our prosperity.
>It will also lead to more economic growth and a more positive image of migration among our citizens.
>This more positive image is really important, because we must not be mistaken: our citizens are particularly hospitable.
>Even though all the barometers indicate that public support for the uncontrolled influx of asylum seekers and illegal migrants has been reached, there remains a clear awareness that we need legal, active migration.
>The recent migration report by the Social and Cultural Planning Office clearly indicates that there is a large majority in the Netherlands in favour of selective labour migration.
>This is also the case in Belgium. A similar study by Randstad, conducted by labour market expert Jan Denys in collaboration with Professor Mark Elchardus, indicates that 6 out of 10 Belgians are in favour of labour migration to keep our economy running.
>If we look at the requirements our citizens impose on newcomers, it boils down to inclusive nationalism. We define the values of our identity as responsible citizenship, knowledge of our language, and respect for our values.
>In the Dutch report, more than 7 out of 10 Dutch people say that someone does not have to be born here to earn Dutch citizenship.
>So you can become Flemish, Walloon or Dutch. The rest is fate.
>Those who advocate open borders or exclusive, ethnic nationalism are therefore out of touch with how the average citizen feels about migration and what our economy needs.
>Such political forces offer us no prospects for the future. But if, on the other hand, we work on a new migration model, it will benefit our citizens, benefit newcomers, and benefit our prosperity.
At least he came out against ethnic nationalism, and he recognises that you don’t have to be born in Flanders to be Flemish (although I think some of his voters would disagree). However, he won’t say Belgian. I think he wants the United Kingdom of the Netherlands back with Dutch, Flemish and Walloon identities open to immigrants to integrate into.
100 miljoen Nederlanders! Te beginnen met de Belgen
> One in three non-EU citizens with a residence permit has come here for family reunification. Only one in five is here for labour migration.
> This has consequences. The employment rate of non-EU citizens is significantly lower than that of EU citizens, which is already not high enough.
Separate point from the article, but I absolutely hate when politicians tag on family reunification visa schemes, then do absolutely nothing about getting rid of red tape to let those on family visas work easier.
I’ve looked into it before with some personal experience, and holy SHIT it is such an extra bureaucratic burden to get family members the right to be economically independent.