Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

Return Migration: Policies and Practices
sions cut down these possibilities. However, there is still a group of aliens who fall under the
previous regulations, the so-called Sequences Steps.
Another obstacle in the execution of the removal is the fact that asylum seekers, who have
stayed for a long period in the country, have already partially integrated into the local community
life. The termination of provisions and reception thus provokes protest from non-governmental
organizations, unions and citizens, which may delay the termination of provisions.
Assessments and Evaluations
There is no comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the Dutch involuntary return
policies available, although experiences from previous policies have sometimes provided useful
insights to inform new strategies. The failure of some readmission agreements e.g. 1992
readmission treaty between Benelux and Slovenia or the 1997 Protocol on Return Cooperation
between the Netherlands and Ethiopia, to yield successful repatriations or transit through these
countries has led to increased efforts by the Dutch government to explore why such agreements
have not worked, and how to better implement existing ones and negotiate new agreements.
Lessons Learned
In regard to involuntary return, the necessity to undertake following measures has been
recognized:
• Intensify gate inspections;
Increase the number of chartered flights;
Implement a centralized and coordinated approach of presentations at the embassies (replacement
travel documents);
Use language analysis to establish nationality;
Collaborate with immigration experts in the Netherlands from important countries of origin;
Negotiate with countries of origin in regard to repatriation.
In order to maintain a credible asylum policy, all provisions and reception have to be terminated
once an asylum application has been refused and no recourse to the courts is possible. In practice,
the termination of provisions remains problematic both due to slow procedures as well as
the practice of a number of municipalities to provide local reception facilities.
In financial terms, the benefits of re-migration remittances, which replace other social security
allowances, are estimated to balance the costs of such allowances.
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