The Dutch Minister for Immigration, Integration and Asylum Policy Gerd Leers has asked Italy’s Home Affairs Minister Anna Maria Cancellieri, and Integration Minister Andrea Riccardi, to support his proposals for the European asylum and migration policy.

The Dutch government is seeking to introduce stricter rules for migrants so that they are better prepared when they come to Europe, thus preventing problems with integration.

The subject will soon be discussed during an informal ministerial meeting in Copenhagen.

After talking about his proposals with his Italian colleagues on 23rd January 2012, Mr. Leers said: “The Netherlands has got the discussion started and the response has been positive. This doesn't mean that they support all our proposals, of course, but the new Italian government is certainly not avoiding the issues.”