Former prime minister Ruud Lubbers is calling for Dutch asylum policy to be more accommodating.

Writing in Het Nederlands Dagblad newspaper, he says asylum seekers and highly qualified migrants are essential if the Netherlands wants to deal with the problems of an aging population. He argues that dealing with requests for asylum negatively, with an eye to refusal, means talent is being turned away from the country.

Mr Lubbers who is also a former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, thinks asylum seekers should be given Dutch lessons as soon as possible and, in any event, within three months of their arrival. If their requests have not been dealt with within three years, applicants should receive a residence permit.

Photo: Ruud Lubbers (flickr.com/Richard Chu)