Report of first trips abroad
By RTL Nieuws·39 minutes ago·Edit: 5 minutes ago
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Minister Faber of Asylum and Migration appeared on the European stage for the first time this week for a meeting with her 26 migration colleagues in the European Union. She also visited Denmark and Poland. How is she doing in Europe? Political reporter Floor Bremer was there and describes what she saw.
The rain is pouring down from the sky when Faber travels to Luxembourg on Wednesday for her first European consultations. It leads to dangerous situations on the road. Fellow Justice Minister David van Weel, who is also on his way to Luxembourg, even got into a sort of skid with his car.
Faber prefers not to consult with Europe
The fact that even the weather is creating a blockage to reaching the European meeting symbolizes the fact that Faber prefers not to consult with Europe. But even the heavy rain cannot prevent Faber from simply arriving at the main entrance of the EU building the next morning in the gray morning mist. Where she would rather not be.
Because on the morning before the General Political Reflections in September, she published a photo of herself signing a letter to the European Commission. The content fits one A4 sheetIf there is ever a treaty amendment, the Netherlands would like to have an exceptional position in migration policy. An opt-out. Kind regards, Marjolein Faber.
That is the Dutch message with which Faber enters the European political arena for the first time. And as has become a constant with all Minister Faber’s ideas: she approaches them with a lot of positivity. When asked upon arrival whether she expects to receive support from the other member states for this plan, she says: “Yes, why not? I am optimistic, you know that.”
Continue without Europe
The fact that the note from the Netherlands is nowhere on the agenda does not change this. Faber has many individual appointments with her new European colleagues during the day, so she has every opportunity to point out that, as far as this cabinet is concerned, the Netherlands would like to continue with migration policy without Europe.
While Faber starts energetically with her first appointments, the other ministers enter through a hedge of journalists on the other side of the building. In response to questions from the Dutch press, they all say that they don’t think the opt-out is a good idea, as you can see in the video below. Her centre-right colleague from Sweden says that Europe is better off working together than countries leaving individually. An opinion that her far-right Finnish colleague also shares.
But Faber has a clear goal in mind. And that’s why she made an appearance in Denmark two weeks earlier on her first international trip, to gain inspiration. The Danes did indeed negotiate the opt-out so desired by this government during the negotiations for the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.
Almost as enthusiastic style as Rutte
It is striking that Faber uses an almost as enthusiastic style as Mark Rutte during meetings with her international colleagues. A firm handshake, broad smile and a ‘great to meet you’ introduction are part of the standard package. To the polite Danish opening question where she comes from, she articulates Hoe-ve-laken extra clearly twice and then helpfully responds to her host with “You probably don’t know it”.
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As a newcomer, she is shown around in Luxembourg by the permanent representative of the Netherlands to the EU, Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan. Since she became minister, Faber has worn strikingly colorful clothes, an idea from her media trainer to appear ‘less strict’. In her bright blue jacket and skirt with flowers, she walks somewhat awkwardly behind the tall De Zwaan into the meeting room. She puts her things down next to the Netherlands sign and then looks around uneasily. “Can I leave them here?” she asks to be sure.
He introduces her to the other ministers: “This is your French colleague.” Firm handshake, slight bow, broad smile. “Nice to meet you.” The fact that the same colleague just outside in plain language dismissed the Dutch idea for an opt-out does not detract from Faber’s cordiality. She gives him a friendly pat on the arm.
Faber is then outdone in enthusiasm by her Polish colleague. He uses the firm handshake to pull her into a hug (see X message below). She doesn’t back down and participates enthusiastically. “Let’s have a drink later,” she suggests.
It is no coincidence that her longest introductory meeting is with her Hungarian colleague. Victor Orban’s country is the only one that, following the Netherlands, has also asked for an exception to the migration rules. So within the club of migration ministers, Hungary is currently Faber’s only ally on her mission.
She is pleasantly surprised at how well she is received, Faber says afterwards, almost surprised, to the assembled Dutch and international press. She would like to give special mention to her conversation with European Commissioner Johansson. Faber received a compliment from her about the advanced Dutch border security at Schiphol. And that gives her ‘quite a proud feeling’, she repeats a few times.
When the international press wants to know what the current situation is with the Netherlands’ opt-out plans, they have to admit in staccato English that nothing is happening with them at the moment. “I still want that exceptional position, but as long as it is not there, we will simply comply with the European agreements.”
At the end of the day she posts a message on X with photos of her meetings. The word opt-out no longer appears.
Because that is the reality with which she drives back to the Netherlands: simply working together with the other European member states. Marjolein Faber’s optimism does not change that.
