News items Ministry of Justice and Securityhttps://www.government.nl/News items of Ministry of Justice and Security on Government.nlen-GBAny form of re-use of the content of this feed is permittedMon, 09 Mar 2026 03:06:38 GMT5News itemshttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/12/01/long-term-policy-on-asylum-support-for-refugees-from-ukraineSince Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians have fled and been accommodated in the European Union. The Netherlands is currently hosting some 135,000 refugees from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). The TPD was extended in June 2025 to make it applicable up to and including 4 March 2027.Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:54:00 GMT252c9027-8ec1-40f9-a032-440310e43467https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/10/23/meeting-between-his-excellency-abdullah-bin-sultan-bin-awad-al-nuaimi-minister-of-justice-of-the-united-arab-emirates-and-his-excellency-foort-van-oosten-minister-of-justice-and-security-of-the-kingdom-of-the-netherlandsHis Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, met with His Excellency Foort van Oosten, Minister of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, during an official visit to The Hague on 22 October 2025.Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:51:00 GMT84bac364-5e66-4699-a951-a6cb93c1767bhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/09/26/the-netherlands-and-uganda-make-arrangements-on-returning-migrants-via-ugandaThe Netherlands and Uganda have agreed to work together to facilitate the return of migrants who are required to leave the Netherlands to their country of origin via Uganda. The individuals concerned are nationals of countries in the region. Today David van Weel, Minister of Asylum and Migration and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Ugandan counterpart Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed a Letter of Intent to this effect in New York, where they are attending the UN General Assembly.Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:00:00 GMT2979a6f2-d704-4547-93fe-84eb02611710https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/14/new-law-makes-it-easier-to-confiscate-the-proceeds-of-crimeA bill implementing the European confiscation directive, which will facilitate the faster and more effective confiscation of valuables and assets which are the proceeds of crime, entered the consultation phase earlier today. At the moment, confiscation can only take place after a suspect has been convicted. The bill will make it possible to do so without a suspect having been convicted, or even without a suspect having been identified. This form of confiscation is also called non-conviction-based confiscation, or NCBC. The directive will also make cross-border cooperation easier in order to detect and confiscate criminal assets.Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:30:00 GMTcdd054f2-ef53-4b6e-8010-5e233b888d59https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/11/bill-tightening-community-service-ban-enters-consultation-phaseEnforcement officers and emergency workers must be able to do their work safely and unhindered and it is unacceptable if they face aggression and violence while doing so because they do not have the option of retreating if they face violence in the line of duty. This means that community service is not an appropriate punishment for an assault against individuals who are responsible for providing emergency assistance or effectively enforcing the rule of law. The Minister of Justice and Security is therefore consulting on an amendment to the Dutch Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) to expand and tighten the community service ban when it comes to a number of issues identified in legal practice. The government recognises the dilemmas involved in defining the affected groups. For instance, a distinction could be made between emergency workers and investigating officers. For that reason the government is explicitly inviting everyone to submit views on the scope of the ban during this consultation round.Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT609a3115-ea01-430b-9f4b-3c64e8010812https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/11/improved-protection-for-employees-during-liquidationIf a company goes into liquidation, the impact on employees is significant. With the Transfer of Undertakings in Liquidation (Wovof) bill, State Secretary for Legal Protection Struycken and Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Van Hijum aim to strengthen employee protection if a company relaunches following liquidation. The bill also introduces an additional safeguard against abuse of liquidation to bypass employee dismissal protections. Today, the cabinet agreed to submit the bill to the Council of State for advice.Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT1decc328-f41a-4d22-91be-7cbeb002a3d0https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/11/the-government-is-starting-to-alleviate-the-pressure-on-the-asylum-seeker-processing-systemToday the government took a first step towards further alleviating pressure on the asylum seeker processing system. It is introducing a coherent package of measures to encourage new forms of housing, which will also free up homes for residence permit holders. The guiding principle here is to create equal opportunities for everyone who is looking for a home and promote self-reliance among residence permit holders. In addition to this coherent package, the government has been working on several measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in the country and on an amendment to the Housing Allocation Act 2014 (Huisvestingswet 2014), to prohibit priority being given solely on the basis of residence status. Minister Keijzer (asylum and migration and housing and spatial planning) and Minister Nobel (participation and integration) explain the various measures in a letter to both chambers.Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMTbc1bb4f9-a63d-4e9b-8862-1908b8e57c32https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/04/long-term-policy-on-returns-and-residenceUnfortunately there seems to be no let-up in Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and political agreement has been reached on extending temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine in the European Union (EU), until 4 March 2027. The government supports Ukrainians who already wish to return and is working on a wider return programme. The government is also working on plans for an alternative to residence rights in the form of a transition document for refugees when the Temporary Protection Directive (Richtlijn Tijdelijke Bescherming, RTB) ends.  Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT4b5950c8-1e39-41ce-810a-9fbfdb3e22cehttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/04/extension-of-the-temporary-protection-directive-until-4-march-2027-for-refugees-from-ukraine-and-recommendations-for-an-exit-strategyThe Russian invasion of Ukraine is not over yet. That is why the European Commission submitted a proposal to extend the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) by one year. The JHA Council (Council of Justice and Home Affairs ministers) reached political agreement on this prolongation on 13th of June 2025. Formal decision-making in the Council of the European Union is expected on the 15th of July. Then temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine will be able to stay in EU Member States until 4 March 2027.Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT2a4615aa-fad3-40ea-bf66-d4e0d9a96c1fhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/07/04/increase-in-personal-contribution-as-of-1-october-2025Refugees from Ukraine who are earning an income will start paying a higher amount towards the cost of the support they receive as from 1 October 2025. The amount in question relates to a personal contribution to operating costs of €244.22 per month per person (aged 18 or over). The change reduces the differences compared to other groups in our society, such as those on minimum income or asylum seekers and represents another step towards normalising the situation of refugees from Ukraine in the Netherlands. The personal contribution to catering of €252.18 per person (aged 18 or over) will be continued in its current form. The maximum personal contribution for a family (with two adults) at a location at which catering is provided is now €992.80 per month.Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMTeffcd39e-29fc-4c50-a360-a91b8c06f9f1https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/30/new-justice-and-security-laws-as-of-1-july-2025The maximum penalty for participating in a terrorist organisation is to be increased from 15 to 20 years, child support debts are soon to be given priority over other debts and licensed providers of online gambling are no longer to be allowed to sponsor sports clubs or competitions. Various laws in the field of Justice and Security are set to come into force on 1 July 2025. The following is an overview.Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:22:00 GMTa4880559-5eb1-48a3-a038-9eddc6aca288https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/30/the-government-embraces-european-proposal-to-facilitate-application-of-safe-third-country-conceptIf it is up to the European Commission, the options open to member states when it comes to deciding not to consider the substance of an asylum request will be expanded in cases in which the person in question can receive protection in another, safe country outside the EU. The government, along with other member states, asked the commission to come up with a proposal which should ensure that fewer people end up coming to the Netherlands and that we get a grip on migration.Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMTc3faa10b-1b63-453e-a4f5-0f128c6a2759https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/30/government-acknowledges-additional-suffering-of-children-placed-in-careThe government recognises the additional distress that children experienced due to both the benefits scandal and subsequent care orders. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Minister Struycken (Legal Protection), Minister Palmen-Schlangen (Benefits and Redress) and Minister Tielen (Youth, Prevention and Sport) respond to the ‘Inheritance of Injustice’ report by the Hamer Commission that carried out the investigation. The government has also announced specific measures to support young people.Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT8f7a012b-4328-4a48-a8e8-8cf8e54a78a3https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/26/additional-funding-for-legal-aid-as-early-as-2026More investment in legal aid is also planned for 2026. It was previously announced in the Spring Memorandum that an additional €30 million per year will be provided as from 1 January 2027. For 2026, the funds will be released from the existing legal aid budget. This funding will be used to adjust the points allocated to legal aid lawyers for cases and to increase the supplements, the basic rate per point and travel allowance for mediators. The rate increases must be implemented as soon as possible in 2026, once the necessary Order in Council has been enacted. These measures give effect to many of the Van der Meer II Committee’s recommendations. State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, outlined this in a letter to the House of Representatives.Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:00:00 GMT8a424d51-aa7b-4469-9ae7-075a278fec30https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/25/new-agenda-delivers-greater-justice-for-victimsDelivering greater justice for victims of criminal offences through improved implementation and strengthening of their existing rights – that is the aim of the long-term victim policy agenda that State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, has submitted to the House of Representatives.Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:00:00 GMT4eb7a797-ef40-43e1-a334-97a4a2cc88a1https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/20/cabinet-approves-bill-criminalising-the-glorification-of-terrorismTerrorism poses a significant threat to the democratic rule of law and the safety of Dutch society. Terrorist groups seek not only to impose their ideology and destabilise our society through violence but also to spread intolerant and violent messages online to recruit more supporters of their beliefs. These supporters then become inspired to disseminate similar content. In response, the Cabinet has agreed to publish a bill for consultation that aims to make glorifying terrorism and publicly expressing support for terrorist organisations criminal offences. The Minister of Justice and Security intends for this bill to clamp down on the public glorification of terrorist violence and overt support for terrorist organisations.Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:20:00 GMT487e8080-9c3d-4fa2-afc4-507f0871ed50https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/20/dutch-government-presents-a-coordinated-strategy-to-tackle-corruptionThe Netherlands cannot afford to be naive in tackling corruption, as criminal organisations depend on corruption to operate. By pressuring or bribing individuals, they gain access to valuable information and can influence and manipulate processes. For this reason, the Minister of Justice and Security and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations are presenting a government-wide, anti-corruption strategy, as announced in the coalition programme, which builds on existing initiatives that have already delivered proven results. This means that authorities, implementing organisations and businesses in high-risk sectors – such as transport and logistics – will identify and take active steps in relation to their vulnerable business processes and roles. The government is committed to preventing corruption at every level, both in the public and private sectors.Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:20:00 GMT5fb69eac-99cb-41e7-9525-0dfe2085d1d1https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/13/proposal-to-extend-the-temporary-protection-directive-up-to-and-including-4-march-2027-for-refugees-from-ukraineThe Russian invasion of Ukraine is not over yet. That is why the European Commission submitted a proposal to the EU Member States on 4 June 2025 to extend the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) by one year up to and including 4 March 2027.Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:38:00 GMT0d0257f1-c4f2-4985-a6cb-7a5e3a2d866ehttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/13/minister-van-weel-introduces-broadening-of-the-crown-witness-scheme-and-improvements-to-witness-protectionBroadening the crown witness scheme and improving the legal framework for witness protection are important steps in tackling the undermining of witnesses by organised crime. The Council of Ministers has just approved the start of consultations on a legislative proposal to improve the crown witness scheme and the new Witness Protection Decree.Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:26:00 GMTd38d1274-c947-4c24-a0a9-bb5dfec53d59https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/12/sharp-decrease-in-number-of-entry-ban-violationsOver 300,000 fewer traffic fines were issued in the first four months of 2025 than in the same period in 2024. The biggest drop was in violations of so-called 'entry bans'. This mainly concerns entry bans indicated by the traffic sign C12. This sign is often used to indicate no entry to a car-free city centre or environmental zone. The number of offences decreased by nearly half (from 117,893 to 62,533). The previous year as a whole saw precisely an increase in these offences.Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:39:00 GMTe8d92706-777f-44c1-aac5-1b2391507690