Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands The Netherlands has committed itself to striking a good balance between maintaining security, on the one hand, and promoting the free movement of persons, good and services, and free trade, on the other. The Netherlands and our European partners are proceeding in a robust and integrated manner with the development of cohesive, well-designed borders. Within the EU, we are working on programmes to improve the systematic tracking of Europeans and others entering and leaving the Union. These include the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). We are also taking innovative steps to safeguard our security through our visa policy and in the visa issuing process. The Netherlands continues to focus actively on security issues, so that returning violent and extremist jihadists, other potential threats to European and Dutch security and potential infringements of the rule of law can be identified in good time and undesirable persons are actively denied entry. | 40 | To make migration more manageable, the government is pursuing an integrated border control policy, comprising three elements: • Partnerships with a number of countries in North Africa to improve their border controls while protecting human rights and combating terrorism and cross-border crime. More European cooperation and closer cooperation with and between third countries can help improve border controls in the region. • Effective border controls and measures in our own territory. To that end, we have invested in the capacity of the Royal Military and Border Police (KMar). This extra capacity is primarily intended to strengthen the Netherlands’ external borders at air- and seaports. It will also equip KMar to contribute to effective management of Europe’s external borders, through either Frontex or multidisciplinary teams. • Investment in the further digitalisation of border controls in the coming years, with the help of European funds. This will strengthen border controls, enhance internal security and promote the mobility of bona fide travellers. | 41 |