Record number of immigrants in 2008
About 30 percent of 140,000 migrants who entered the Netherlands were 'import brides' from Turkey and Morocco.
Radio Netherlands/Expatica
June 9, 2009
The Netherlands More people entered the Netherlands than left the country in 2008 for the first time in six years, reports Immigration Minister Eberhard van der Laan.
A record number of 140,000 migrants were recorded last year, and are made up mainly of 'import brides' and eastern European immigrants. The number of 'import brides' increased by 32 percent to 15,330 and come mainly from Turkey and Morocco.
In the first six months of 2008, the population increased by almost 30,000.
The latest figures indicate a reverse in the prevailing migration pattern, which saw more emigrants than immigrants in the country since 2003.
The ministry said immigrants have found way to circumvent the rules by, for instance, first bringing a partner to another EU country.
And the Netherlands cannot possibly integrate all these newcomers, said Van der Laan.
De Telegraaf reports Van der Laan wants to end the inflow of unskilled marriage candidates because it negates all the energy and money invested in integration.
The ministers tough stance was cheered by the Christian Democrats and opposition conservative VVD party who hope that the cabinet would finally see the relationship between large-scale immigration and unsuccessful integration.
Radio Netherlands / Expatica
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Related Articles :
Fewer migrant brides brought to NL
Bulgarians, Poles, Romanians flock to NL
