Dutch cabinet forces municipalities to receive asylum seekers
The shortage of reception places has become so great that the Dutch cabinet decided this week to take the lead in designating reception places itself. It is unusual that the Government is taking this measure. Up to now, the cabinet had left the management to municipalities. But the shortage of places is only growing. The situation is now 'barely tenable'.
Municipalities that refuse to receive asylum seekers because their zoning plan does not allow the allocation of reception locations can now still be forced by the cabinet. This can be done via an ‘environmental permit’ that the government grants and with which a zoning plan can be circumvented.
A good idea, thinks Peter Rodrigues, Professor of Asylum Law at Leiden University. 'The European reception guidelines are under threat. The government has now designated the deficit as a national crisis. Then you have to use all instruments at hand. This rule gives municipalities the possibility to ignore local objections to the national interest. This does not mean that the State will take a hard stance by forcing municipalities that contribute little to do more.' The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) is not happy with the new measure.
'The government itself is responsible for this crisis', says Professor Rodrigues in Pledge Times. 'When fewer asylum seekers came forward, reception centres disappeared. This is how shortages arise if there are suddenly more asylum applications. The government needs to maintain a buffer.'