On Tuesday, MPs in the Chamber of Deputies discussed a range of topics during a question-and-answer session.
MP Djuna Bernard of the Green Party (déi gréng) enquired about how refugee structures had handled the recent heatwave. Following a report by Radio 100,7 that 431 people were relocated from the tent accommodation at the Kirchberg initial reception centre, Bernard sought further details on the relocation.
Minister for Reception of Refugees Max Hahn stressed in his response that Luxembourg's refugee structures are varied and differ significantly from one another. At the same time, he noted that not every refugee is vulnerable. However, for those who are, the general rule is that they are relocated to adapted structures as quickly as possible.
Regarding the specific case of the Kirchberg tent accommodation, the minister confirmed that the government had relocated residents due to the risk of excessive heat. Hahn added that this was not the first time such a measure had been taken.
In an initial phase, authorities relocated only the most vulnerable individuals. However, when a red heat alert was announced for several consecutive days, they decided to evacuate everyone. Minister Hahn explained that the vast majority of those relocated were brought to the emergency facility at Findel Airport.
While the tent accommodation does have cooling options, the minister acknowledged that they had not functioned as intended.
In a separate question, Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) parliamentary group leader Taina Bofferding asked whether the judiciary and police have the necessary tools to combat the phenomenon of violent extremist nihilism. This phenomenon, she noted, primarily targets young people online, coercing them into violent actions against others and themselves – including suicide.
Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden replied that authorities are taking the phenomenon very seriously. He explained that Luxembourg's authorities, including the police, have been involved in the Europol project "Compass" for several years to facilitate information exchange.
As such, there is European-level cooperation on this issue, the minister said. Gloden added that the EU is also raising awareness through initiatives such as "Better Internet for Kids".
However, the minister also called on parents to assume responsibility by being aware of their children's online activities.
