Author
| Name in English | Number of staff | Ministry responsible | Is there any political interference possible by the responsible Minister with the decision making in individual cases by the determining authority? |
| Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) | 4,458[1] | Ministry of Security and Justice | Yes |
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) is responsible for examining applications for international protection and competent to take decisions at first instance. The work instructions applied by caseworkers are published in Dutch on the IND’s website. This includes procedural instructions on, inter alia, interviews; subsequent applications; age assessments; border procedures; the use of country of origin information. Additionally, it provides information on how to work with an interpreter; how to handle medical advice; how to decide in cases in which sexual orientation and gender identity issues are brought up as grounds for asylum; or how to conduct child-friendly interviews.[2]
In addition to the staff of the IND, there will most probably also be a number of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) personnel present on Dutch territory in 2023. Because of the ongoing shelter crisis, on 21 December 2021 the then Minister for Migration addressed a letter to the EUAA requesting support in dealing with this crisis. In the rapid needs assessment conducted over the following months, it was concluded that the EUAA would provide up to 160 temporary containers and 7 staff members in support to reception activities.
In May 2022, the EUAA signed its first operational plan with the Netherlands, to help with first operational response to address temporary reception needs, as well as operational collaboration int he field of reception.[3] In December 2022, the EUAA and the Netherlands signed a new operating plan for 2022-2023, focused on the first objective of helping with first operational response to address temporary reception needs.[4]
Throughout 2022, the EUAA deployed 5 different experts to the Netherlands:[5] 3 EUAA staff members and 2 external experts. 3 were roving team members and 2 were junior asylum information provision experts.[6]
The same personnel remained deployed in the Netherlands as of 20 December 2022.[7]
[1] IND, Jaarcijfers 2022, available in Dutch at: https://bit.ly/3UacE0f.
[2] IND, Work instructions, available in Dutch at: https://bit.ly/2MtP0f7.
[3] EUAA, Operational Plan 2022 agreed with the European Union Agency for Asylum and the Netherlands, 6 May 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3ypVNMJ, Annex 1.
[4] EUAA, Operational Plan 2022-2023 agreed with the European Union Agency for Asylum and the Netherlands, December 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3FenQ5x, Annex 1.
[5] EUAA personnel numbers do not include deployed interpreters by the EUAA in support of asylum and reception activities.
[6] Information provided by the EUAA, 28 February 2023.
[7] Information provided by the EUAA, 28 February 2023.