The Dutch government has abandoned plans to screen 8,000 foreign scientists and students annually for potential espionage risks. The proposal, initially put forward by the previous cabinet citing concerns about knowledge potentially being misused by countries like China, Russia, and Iran, was deemed ineffective, impractical, and disproportionate based on recent advice. Education Minister Mariëlle Letschert stated the existing legal framework couldn’t support screening such a large number of individuals accessing sensitive information. Concerns were raised about lengthy processing times deterring researchers and driving them to other countries, as well as higher-than-expected costs. Legal challenges, specifically regarding potential discrimination against non-EU researchers, also contributed to the decision. While the large-scale screening is off the table, universities will continue to conduct their own risk assessments, with hundreds of applications and collaborations already having been halted due to security concerns.