The Dutch central agency responsible for accommodating asylum seekers has issued a plea to the caretaker government to advance new legislation addressing the
distribution of asylum seekers, especially in light of the Ukrainian refugee situation.
With the government set to resume its duties on Tuesday, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has urged Members of Parliament to prioritize the discussion of a proposed "distribution" bill, even though the government is currently in a caretaker status.
COA board chairman Milo Schoenmaker emphasized, "The provision of humane shelter is not a matter of politics; it is a legal obligation that the Netherlands must fulfill. Unfortunately, at present, we do not have an adequate number of long-term accommodations of sufficient quality."
Over the weekend, the Minister for Asylum, Eric van der Burg, announced that individuals who had residency in Ukraine but were not Ukrainian citizens and had sought refuge in the Netherlands could temporarily remain in the country.
Initially, the government had mandated that this group of "third-country nationals" depart the Netherlands by September 4. However, a swift ruling from the Council of State determined that one of these refugees did not need to be expelled, potentially establishing a precedent for others in similar situations.
While concerns earlier in the year of an overwhelming influx of asylum seekers have not materialized, certain municipalities have been shouldering a disproportionate share of the refugee burden, while others have received very few. Since 2015, the closure of permanent accommodation centers has resulted in many refugees residing in "sub-optimal" conditions such as sports facilities, cruise ships, ferries, and other temporary lodgings.
Recent news from Belgium indicating that single male refugees will not be accepted this winter, with priority given to families, women, and children, has raised concerns that some of these men might seek asylum in the Netherlands.
The dissolution of the fourth Rutte government was triggered by an inability to reach a consensus on asylum restrictions, and it is anticipated to be a prominent issue in the forthcoming general election scheduled for November.