Last Friday, Jean Asselborn, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, stated that Luxembourg’s capacity to host refugees was nearing its limits. In the Grand Duchy, only 33 out of the 100 municipalities have designated facilities. Many of the individuals residing there are beneficiaries of international protection, but they often find themselves unable to move elsewhere due to the lack of available accommodations.
On Monday, the Union of Cities and Municipalities in Luxembourg (Syvicol) convened to explore various means and resources that different towns can provide. “Municipalities are at their wit’s end. We don’t have vacant apartments and are fervently searching for homes for those who have requested assistance from the social offices,” explained Paul Engel, the Mayor of Grosbous-Wahl.
Habscht Mayor Serge Hoffmann added, “The beneficiaries of international protection are now in direct competition with local citizens seeking housing.”
Dan Biancalana, Syvicol’s Vice President and Mayor of Dudelange, pointed out that a similar appeal for refugee assistance was made in 2015 and 2016. During that time, local authorities were incentivised to house people within their jurisdiction. Biancalana is now advocating for government and local authorities to craft tailored solutions for each town.
Mayor Hoffmann emphasised the need for more flexible land classifications, a matter that inevitably circles back to procedural issues. Michel Malherbe, the Mayor of Mersch, highlighted that solutions do exist; for instance, his municipality currently houses 33 people in specially equipped containers. However, he acknowledged that this requires space. Mayor Biancalana made a compelling plea for simplifications in modifying General Building Plans (PAGs).
Emile Eicher, the President of Syvicol, revealed that he had met with Minister Asselborn on October 11th, proposing to expedite procedures for what are known as modular constructions. “The Ministry for Home Affairs took a similar approach for tiny houses,” Eicher concluded.
