With his name on the "Pim Fortuyn list" (LPF), the Netherlands Minister for Immigration and Integration , Hilbrand Nawijn, considers that the "hardening" of the policy pursued by his country will make for better migrant integration.

Hilbrand Nawijn: After adopting a very "liberal", stance, we think it is time to remind aliens that while they have rights they also have duties. In particular, we want them to be familiar with our language and culture and to abide by our laws, including those on separation of Church and State and equality between women and men. We also want to reduce the number of new arrivals and asylum seekers.

Hilbrand Nawijn: Quite the contrary. We want to prevent the minority of aliens who flout the laws from "harming" all migrants in the long run, those who are employed and well integrated. We are simply saying that we shall no longer tolerate gaps in relation to the laws. There are three million foreign residents in the Netherlands; there is no question of expelling them, but the question is to combat the minority among them who do not observe the common rules. We do not connect crime with emigration, and we shall continue to fight xenophobia and racism. We believe that our stricter integration policy will have the precise effect of countering these phenomena.

Hilbrand Nawijn: While calling upon the European Union to strengthen its legislative instruments, especially concerning asylum seekers and return of "illegal" immigrants, as we did a few days ago in Copenhagen, we rely on the Council of Europe to make the debate Europe-wide. It’s a good idea to create within it a structure such as the one envisaged here. Moreover, the Council is an ideal forum for pooling and comparing our practices and experiences in these matters.