A planned refugee camp in the industrial zone of “Weiergewan,” Contern, has become a flashpoint for disagreement over construction costs. A hangar, repurposed in early 2022 to house up to 1,000 refugees, remains unused, prompting a financial standoff between the state and the Guy Rollinger Group, the site’s developer.
In February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a mass exodus of over a million people, with European nations, including Luxembourg, stepping up to provide shelter to refugees. Among the options identified for refugee accommodation was a hangar in Contern, purchased by a neighboring business to the Guy Rollinger Group in 2021. The National Reception Office (ONA) selected the site for its size, and construction began on March 9, 2022, with an estimated cost of €580,000.
Patrick Martins, the self-assigned “right-hand-man” to manager Guy Rollinger, detailed the extensive work undertaken to ready the facility: “We took care of everything—sanitation, showers, electricity, heaters. Even outside, we built structures to house people’s pets and implemented fire safety. Everything was done so the hangar could be operational in three days, even though the fire safety was not completely finished yet.”
The army delivered 1,000 beds, while the Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps of Luxembourg (CGDIS) set them up. Kitchens and laundry facilities, including 50 washing machines, were also installed. Despite these efforts, the hangar never hosted refugees.
The Guy Rollinger Group is now seeking reimbursement for the €580,000 invested, plus additional compensation. Martins highlighted an ongoing financial burden: “Since March 2022, we’ve been paying €70,000 in monthly rent ourselves because the facility was never used. The government also stored items in the hangar for months, which added to the issue.”
While an agreement was reached with the ONA and Family Minister Max Hahn to reimburse the €580,000 in January 2024, the funds remain unpaid despite the submission of detailed invoices.
A further complication involves the site’s co-owner, who has reportedly opposed the hangar’s use as a refugee camp. Martins recounted that initially, the neighbor didn’t object to the plans, “but 15 months later, he started complaining again without reason.”
Minister Hahn, in a written statement, confirmed that disagreements with the co-owner are the primary reason the hangar remains unused.
In early 2024, discussions shifted to downsizing the project to accommodate 325 people, including victims of natural disasters. Marion Zovilé-Braquet, the mayor of Contern, expressed cautious optimism: “The preliminary draft looks good. It envisions private spaces, like small apartments, which is promising. But we haven’t heard anything since February.”
The mayor clarified that while the municipality is open to the project, responsibility ultimately lies with the ministry.
If no resolution is reached, the Guy Rollinger Group plans to take the matter to court, although the absence of a signed rental contract may complicate their case.
