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Dutch gov't plans to expand support for EU external border

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Netherlands is setting up a team of 250 to 300 people to support Europe's external border control, said Dutch Minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff in a letter to the Chamber made public on Wednesday.

"Europe's external borders are also our external borders. Migrants who cross the border into Greece for example, are travelling to the rest of Europe in large numbers. The Netherlands therefore supports other Member States in the monitoring of our common external borders. The government wants to expand this support," said Dijkhoff.

The core of the team will consist of military police and it should be able to be deployed at short notice, he added.

The Netherlands now contributes to European Border Agency Frontex operations with manpower and equipment.

In 2016, the contribution will mainly consist of supporting the surveillance of the EU external borders in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria, according to the Dutch government press release.

Besides, the Netherlands continuously has an average of 20 border guards of the State Police and the Seaport Police available for Frontex. They are not only used for border surveillance but also for the identification and registration of migrants.

The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service also contributes 20 interpreters to European external border management.

In addition, from early January to June a Dutch border security team of about 45 people is active on the Greek island of Chios. This team supports the Greek authorities in border surveillance, identification and registration. Enditem