Timmermans: cut labour migration to keep population growth down

GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans has said the Netherlands needs to take steps to limit population growth in the long term by admitting fewer labour migrants. Timmermans’ comments were seen as a sea change in his party’s stance on migration, although the left-wing alliance said in its last election manifesto that restricting economic migration was part of a “realistic and humane migration policy”. A recent report by the government’s demographic development commission said the country should aim for “moderate growth” to reach a population of 19 to 20 million people by 2050. So they’re not able to assess how few rights they have when they sign that document.” The use of foreign workers was also contributing to population decline and creating a “waterbed effect” of labour shortages in countries that recently joined the European Union, such as Bulgaria and Romania, Timmermans pointed out. “We need to ensure that countries that are able to join the EU in the future can catch up faster in their economic development so that you don’t cause this migration flow,” he said.