The Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CCDH) has voiced criticism of the Luxembourg government’s decision to impose restrictions on access to the Winter Action facility at Findel Airport.
When the emergency accommodation reopened for a six-month period in November 2024, Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees Max Hahn announced that individuals unable to prove they had been residing in Luxembourg for at least three months would be required to leave the facility after three nights. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the CCDH called on the government to eliminate this criterion ahead of the next Winter Action initiative.
The CCDH emphasises that the humanistic character of the Winter Action should not be compromised. Speaking with our colleagues from RTL Radio, lawyer Frank Wies, who authored the press release, argues that decisions regarding shelter should not be based on administrative criteria.
He underscores the fundamental principle behind the initiative: “A very straightforward humanistic motive – nobody should freeze outside, or rather, freeze to death, simply because they lack a roof over their heads.” Wies criticised the government’s policy for diluting this principle and limiting access for certain groups.
Additionally, the CCDH raised concerns about the requirement for beneficiaries to demonstrate prior inclusion in a social structure as proof of having resided in Luxembourg for at least three months. The commission questioned what this means for individuals who have been in the country for an extended period but prefer not to engage with NGOs. The CCDH argues, vulnerable people risk being excluded from essential support and falling through the cracks of the system.
Minister Hahn justified the stricter criteria for accessing the Winter Action facility by pointing to the significant increase in new registrations, which now account for 70% of all registrations. He warned against what he described as “social tourism”.
Wies sharply criticised the minister’s choice of words, arguing that while it is acknowledged that a small number of people from abroad arrive in Luxembourg hoping to find accommodation, their situation is far removed from the concept of “social tourism”. Wies deemed the use of this term by the minister as “cynical”.
According to the CCDH, the only legitimate criterion for restricting access to the Winter Action should be based on vulnerability. However, Wies noted that if such a criterion were adopted, the emergency accommodation facility would need to ensure continuous 24/7 medical support for those in need.
This stance aligns with earlier criticism voiced in November 2024 by the non-profit Solidaritéit mat den Heescherten (“Solidarity with the Homeless”). The group argues that if the primary goal of the Winter Action is to provide shelter during the harsh winter months, then all homeless individuals should be treated equally, and without differentiation.
