They decided to fight Islamic terror for a couple of weeks, but it looks as if their resolve is already weakening. From Expatica, with thanks to Anthony:
AMSTERDAM “” The Dutch government has announced it will restrict the number of people who must pass an integration exam to 750,000, rather than the initial target of one million.
But it is pressing ahead with its plans to make lower educated Dutch citizens take the same language and culture exams that will be imposed on immigrants.
Immigration and Integration Minister Rita Verdonk said on Tuesday newcomers, social security recipients, unemployed women who are not claiming social security benefit, and religious leaders from outside the European Union will be obliged to pass an integration exam. Municipal councils will provide the exams.
The Cabinet agreed last Friday on changes to Verdonk’s initial plans, paving the way for both the four immigrant target groups and native Dutch people, who have not completed eight years of schooling in the Netherlands, to undergo integration exams, newspaper De Telegraaf reported.
The amendment requiring lower educated Dutch people to also undergo the integration exam is considered necessary to ensure the integration measures cannot be declared discriminatory. Verdonk accepted advice last week urging that the clause be included in the draft legislation.
A letter introducing the legislation was sent to the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday and is the government’s response to the social tension and polarisation witnessed in the Netherlands in recent years – tension largely blamed on immigration.
Permanent immigrants “” rather than expats “” are earmarked for integration. EU citizens, Antilleans, Arubans and anyone aged above 65 will not need to undergo an integration exam either, news agency Novum reported. Immigrants already living in the Netherlands with a family who fail to pass an integration exam will not be deported.