During a July 20 meeting with municipal representatives, Secretary of State Eric van der Burg announced the unprecedented steps the government is planning to address the refugee issue. Municipalities are failing to provide social housing for people whose asylum requests in the Netherlands are granted. In the Ter-Apel Refugee Reception Center, people are forced to sleep on open-air lawns for weeks.
The work of the municipalities
Secretary of State Eric van der Burgh noted the work done by the municipalities to create accommodation for refugees. At the moment, we have managed to create about 2000 additional places out of the planned 5500. We recently wrote about how this issue is resolved in Utrecht. Van der Burgh expects the municipalities to complete the task in August.
Ter Apel
While state authorities and local governments are looking for a way out of the "refugee crisis", the situation in the largest reception center for asylum seekers - Ter Apel - is becoming increasingly tense. People are forced to sleep on the grass. And this will continue for at least another two weeks, even if some important steps are taken immediately.
Note! It is up to the municipalities to provide social housing for persons whose asylum requests are granted in the Netherlands, but they are not up to the task. Now There are 15 asylum seekers in the asylum centers whose applications for asylum in the Netherlands are granted. The Secretary of State believes that the municipalities should work together to support the integration of these people into Dutch society.
Nuance with Ukrainians
Despite the extremely unpleasant situation in Ter Apel, some municipalities are still not ready to host asylum seekers. Secretary of State Eric van der Burgh "surprised and disappointed". Last week, the government began drafting a bill obliging municipalities to accept asylum seekers.
Against this background, some municipalities say: “We are ready to accept Ukrainians, but not ordinary asylum seekers”. That is why the government will seek to send as many Ukrainians as possible to such places, freeing up places in municipalities that are ready to accommodate any asylum seekers. Dutch Refugee Council says it's stunned "differences based on nationality".
Note! Recently, at the EU level, amendments were adopted to the Directive on temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression in Ukraine. Municipalities are no longer required to provide housing, living allowance, education and medical care to third-country nationals with a residence permit in Ukraine. More about this in our article.
Buying buildings
The government has decided that the Central Reception Agency for Asylum Seekers (COA) will purchase additional buildings to accommodate people, in particular old empty hotels. In a similar way, the government hopes to ease the burden on the network of shelters already in operation.
Cruise liners
Shocking to many Dutch people, the government came up with an offer to accommodate refugees on three large cruise ships - each with 1000 seats (that is, a total of 3000 people). One of the liners is now moored in Velzen, the rest are at sea.
Van der Burgh ordered the liners to sail towards the Netherlands. Where they will be next is still unclear. Alternatively, ships will remain on the high seas. The refugees will board the ships in September. The Refugee Council considers taking refugees on floating cruise ships "an absurd idea".
Prospects
The municipalities understand that the government must take action due to the lack of places to receive asylum seekers. “But these are not structural solutions that we want. The government is moving from one emergency measure to another.”say representatives of local governments. And they add: “Municipalities have reached capacity limits. Last year we accommodated about 24 asylum seekers whose applications were approved. In the current one, thousands of Ukrainians have been accepted”. The government is expected to make thoughtful decisions with a perspective of several years.
Publication Date: 25.07.2022
