Netherlands

The Dutch government expanded the list of safe third countries for asylum seekers, raising concerns about the quality of individual examination of asylum claims. Despite UN criticism, government assistance to rejected asylum seekers who cannot be removed remains limited in duration and scope. Refugee groups criticised longer waits for decisions on asylum and family reunification applications. Citizens with dual nationality can be stripped of their Dutch passport if they join or fight in a terrorist group overseas: children as young as 16 are included, no court conviction is required and the appeal period is only four weeks.