With respect to the recent draft law proposal we (NIDV, SGOED, SNBN and many others) have asked that the period 1985-2003 is included in the new bill. We have some hope this may be considered. This would then include Article 15c (10-Year Clock version 2) from 1985 to 2003 in addition to Article 15 paragraph 1c (10-Year Clock version 3). It seems almost everyone made this case as well. However, I have to admit that we seem to have omitted an important group in our considerations. The children.
The draft law as it is written only considers adults. Minors their loss is mainly organised in Article 16. As such, a minor could share in the loss of the nationality of the parent, Article 16 paragraph 1d (paragraph 1c from 1985-2003). The current proposal does not consider those who lost their nationality together with the parent (Art 16 paragraph 1d) and only considers the adults. If the minors are stil minors then they could be part of the possible new future Option of the parent. However, since 2003 or 1985 there will be quite a few who have meanwhile become adults themselves. And they would not have the same possibility as their parent.
I have met quite a few clients who as a minor shared in the loss of nationality of the parent. Quite a few migrated with the parent against their own wishes. Often in their teens they would have wanted to stay in the Netherlands. Some feel that they were forced to leave their home countries and were looking forward to return one day when they could as adults. They have been vocal about the possibility about getting their nationality back. However, it seems that in this proposed law they were forgotten children. Admittedly we forgot them as well. The presumption that they would have equal rights as their parents is incorrect. The temporary Option possibility proposed is also not retrospective and as such they would not have a route that way either. We will advise the politicians and lawmakers of this joint omission. If you are one of those children (now adult) then please do be vocal. I will take this up and we’ll fight the battle in The Hague.
I am a former Dutch passport holder(2007) who lost her Dutch citizenship in 2013 along with many others. I am also the mother of two now adult children, aged 25 and 27 who are directly impacted by the effects thereof. They are both at an age and keen to take advantage of work, study and living rights under EU. I request that you advocate for these now adult rights to be incorporated into the proposed legislation. I am watching events unfold with great interest and concern.