THE HAGUE, 15/01/04 - The Christian democrats (CDA), the largest government party, is urging a series of drastic measures to get the integration of immigrants into Dutch society off the ground. The policy pursued to date has failed, party leader Maxime Verhagen also now agrees.

"Without overstatement, I should want to state that - apart from the individual successes - integration policy in our country has failed. Those who dare to claim the contrary, are naive or ignorant or both," said Verhagen at a party meeting in The Hague. Earlier, Jozias van Aartsen, party leader of the CDA's conservative (VVD) coalition partner, had already used similar words.

Verhagen wants the minimum age of a marriage partner from abroad raised from 21 to 24. About 75 percent of immigrants born in the Netherlands still bring their husband or wife in from the country of their parents, and these are all people with no chance of getting work, according to Verhagen. He also wants to bar a man that hits his wife after a divorce from bringing a new partner from the land of origin.

In addition, the CDA wants the abolition of double nationality, held by most Moroccans in particular. By barring immigrants from holding two passports, Verhagen expects to "strengthen the choice of an existence in the Netherlands." As well, there should be an obligatory exam in citizenship, covering Dutch history and culture.

With his plans and conclusions, Verhagen is anticipating the investigation by the Blok Commission. This working party led by VVD MP Blok has been looking at the results of 30 years of integration policy in the past months. Its conclusions will be presented on Monday. The commission, consisting of MPs from various parties, is said to have argued quite fiercely over what results to issue.

Verhagen no longer needs the commission for a good picture. He considers there are sufficient examples, particularly in the major cities, indicating that integration of ethnic minorities in Dutch society has gone wrong. "I do indeed no longer have an open mind in the debate," according to Verhagen.