European Court of Justice Mandates Netherlands to Process 140,000 Ukrainian Asylum Claims
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the Netherlands must process approximately 140,000 asylum applications from Ukrainian refugees. This decision comes after the Dutch immigration service (IND) had previously shelved these applications, citing that the European Union’s temporary protection rules already granted Ukrainians the right to live, work, and receive medical care in the Netherlands. The ECJ clarified that the standard 21-month processing period for asylum claims also applies to those who fled Ukraine. This ruling was prompted by a case brought by a man of Chinese Uighur minority, married to a Ukrainian woman, who sought asylum through regular channels despite being covered by the EU's temporary protection. Asylum minister Bart van den Brink acknowledged the decision would place additional strain on the system but noted the court also recognized the need for time to process the large volume of claims. The Netherlands is one of the few EU countries that required Ukrainian refugees to a...
