EU: The Netherlands moves to allow dual citizenship by 2019

The Dutch government is currently reviewing the country’s nationality law as part of an effort to allow dual citizenship by the spring of 2019.

According to Justice Minister Mark Harbers, the plan is to widen the Netherlands’ criteria for dual nationality. At present, naturalised Dutch citizens must renounce the nationality of their country of origin, unless they are married to a Dutch national.

The Netherlands is following in the steps of similar legislation that has been passed in Germany as most of the EU Member States prepare for Brexit.

The new law will allow first-generation migrants in the Netherlands to be holders of more than one passport, a move that would affect 87,000 first- and second-generation UK nationals living in the Netherlands. At the same time, children of Dutch nationals living abroad will not be forced to make a mutually exclusive choice about their nationality.

Up to 100,000 Dutch nationals living in the UK stand to have their children lose access to their EU citizenship if comprehensive reform regarding dual nationality is not in place prior to or immediately after Brexit comes into effect in March 2019. The Dutch government hopes to have completed the reform during the UK’s transition period out of the European Union through December 2020.

Read  more:The Netherlands moves to allow dual citizenship by 2019

The Netherlands: Dutch nationals taking UK citizenship 'will lose Netherlands passports' - byDaniel Boffey

Dutch nationals who take British citizenship to avoid having to leave the UK after Brexit will be stripped of their Netherlands passports due to existing limits on dual nationality, the Dutch prime minister has said.

About 100,000 Dutch nationals living in Britain face an uncertain future after March 2019. The UK and EU are yet to reconcile their differences on the citizens’ rights issue, with Brussels describing the British government’s initial offer as vague and inadequate.

Mark Rutte told Dutch citizens in the UK who have considered becoming British to avoid residency problems once Britain leaves the EU that applying for dual nationality was not an option.

“Countering dual nationality remains one of this cabinet’s policies,” the prime minister said on Monday, in response to a petition with 22,000 signatures calling for a government rethink.

Read more: Dutch nationals taking UK citizenship 'will lose Netherlands passports' | World news | The Guardian

Germany: Merkel reaches coalition deal with Social Democrats - by Jessica SALTZ

Berlin Brandenburg Tor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats early on Wednesday morning, two months after her conservative party won elections but fell short of a full majority.

Germany’s two biggest political forces negotiated through the night and reached a breakthrough at about 5am (4am GMT).

Two months after Merkel’s election victory and a month after coalition talks began, the agreement, if ratified, would enable her to form a government by Christmas – if the SPD gets approval from its 474,000 party members.

The outcome of the rank-and-file postal ballot remains far from certain because many SPD members reject the notion of their traditionally blue-collar party again governing in the shadow of Merkel, as it last did 2005-09.

After that uneasy political marriage, the SPD scored two humiliating electoral defeats in a row and won less than 26% against the conservatives' nearly 42% in the September 22 ballot.

In the protracted talks, the SPD scored a major victory on its core demand, a minimum wage of 8.50 euros ($11.50) per hour from early 2015.

The move aims to narrow a wealth gap brought about by decade-old labour reforms but should also cheer critics in the US, the IMF and Europe who want the export-power to stimulate domestic demand and correct its lopsided trade balance.

The SPD also pushed through a demand for a 30% women's quota on the boards of listed companies from 2016, and an easing of a ban on dual nationality, a key demand of Germany's large Turkish immigrant community, sources said.

Both sides also agreed on pension increases to protect retirees in rapidly ageing Germany, where many elderly are growing scared of suffering poverty in old age.

Read more: Merkel reaches coalition deal with Social Democrats - GERMANY - FRANCE 24

Turkey accuses Dutch PM of discrimination

In an interview with the newspaper De Volkskrant, Turkish minister Faruk Çelik criticises Prime Minister Rutte for remarks he made during the parliamentary debate on the government policy statement earlier this week. During the debate, the conservative liberal leader said he was not concerned by the Dutch-Swedish    <Mark Rutte>

nationality of Deputy Health Minister Marlies Veldhuijzen van Santen-Hyllner but did have a problem with the Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch nationalities of two deputy ministers in the previous government.

The prime minister argued they are different cases. He claimed Turkey and Morocco "influence their citizens", which could lead to conflicting loyalties, whereas Sweden, a member of the European Union, does not.
The controversy has erupted due to objections to the deputy minister's dual nationality by PVV leader Geert Wilders.

Three years ago, the anti-Islam MP called for a no-confidence motion against two Labour deputies holding a Moroccan and a Turkish passport as well as a Dutch one. On that occasion, though the VVD parliamentary party did not back the no-confidence vote, Mr Rutte, then an MP, supported Mr Wilders' concerns. The current minority coalition, comprising the liberal VVD and the Christian Democrats, has a parliamentary majority thanks to a support agreement with the PVV.

For more: Turkey accuses Dutch PM of discrimination | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Angus Reed: Dutch Give Low Support to Double Nationality

For the comkplete report from Angus Reid Global Monitor click on this link

Dutch Give Low Support to Double Nationality

Opinions on permitting dual citizenship are divided in the Netherlands, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. 45 per cent of respondents think the country should allow people to hold double nationality, while 32 per cent believe it should be forbidden for everybody to have more than one.