Dutch Immigration Minister Gerd Leers has rejected criticism of his performance at a European Union meeting in Brussels on Monday. Populist Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders slammed Mr Leers earlier on Tuesday for voting in favour of lifting the EU visa requirement for Albanians and Bosnians.
Mr Leers will have to explain his decision to MPs in a Dutch parliamentary debate next week. “I have gained more now than if I had voted ‘no’. I can now apply an emergency brake on the issue. A visa requirement will be reinstated if Albanians and Bosnians settle in the EU en masse. This emergency brake applies to all the Balkan countries,” argued Mr Leers.
The minister said he was looking forward to explaining his strategy to MPs in the emergency debate next week.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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