Belgian municipalities will receive a subsidy for accepting asylum seekers

State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor is introducing a subsidy to municipalities that receive asylum seekers, De Standaard wrote on Saturday. “It is the first time we give a premium for this,” said the Fedasil spokeswoman. “Every place counts right now.”

A one-off premium between €2,000 and €3,500 per received asylum seeker should convince mayors. According to De Standaard, this is apparent from a letter that the competent State Secretary Nicole de Moor sent to the mayors on Friday, together with Fedasil.

De Moor therefore also counts on the municipalities, although she uses threatening language simultaneously. She points out that she could introduce a mandatory distribution among the municipalities, “as provided for by law”, but she reckons that this will not be necessary. “We continue to walk the path of voluntary participation.”

However, the subsidy has not yet managed to convince municipalities. “It’s not about the money for us,” said Nathalie Debast, spokeswoman for the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG).

“It’s just no longer possible, after years of yo-yo policy. First, the municipalities had to create extra places, then reduce them again and now make more space. Moreover, there are hardly any places left. The municipal authorities should start renting on the private market, but then they compete with their own residents, who are already struggling to find rental homes.”

 

© State Secretary for Asylum and Migration policy Nicole de Moor pictured during a working visit to the Dublin Centre in Zaventem, Friday 26 August 2022. 

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About belganewsagency.eu

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle.

Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language.

For public institutions, businesses and various organisations that need reliable information, Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs.

Contact

Arduinkaai 29 1000 Brussels

www.belganewsagency.eu