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State Secretary Eric van der Burg denies that he performed a political sport with cash for the reception of failed asylum seekers by municipalities. “I do not play video games,” he mentioned within the Home of Representatives, including that the coalition settlement is sacred so far as he’s involved and that he desires to implement it “to the letter”.
There was loads of fuss yesterday when it turned out that no more cash might be allotted for the Nationwide Immigration Services (LVVs) from 2024 within the Spring Memorandum. These are austere shelters in 5 municipalities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen and Eindhoven. They’re supposed for individuals who don’t get a residence allow and who’re feared that they’ll roam the streets.
Van der Burg initially confirmed the media experiences, however final evening despatched a letter to the Home of Representatives wherein he mentioned that cash will nonetheless be accessible after this yr for the so-called bed-bath-bread scheme. That was after coalition companions D66 and ChristenUnie reacted angrily to the messages. They accused him of non-compliance.
‘Choice of total cupboard’
The Home of Representatives as we speak wished clarification from the State Secretary. However based on him, there was not a lot occurring. It’s true that no cash has been reserved for the LVVs for 2024. However that should not come as a shock, he says, as a result of the pilot that’s now operating within the 5 municipalities will cease. For this yr ‘incidental cash’ (for one yr) had been put aside for this.
He did take a look at protecting the quantity of about 30 million per yr (to which the municipalities now contribute 6 million), however “it was a reasonably troublesome yr”, he mentioned, “and cutbacks needed to be made”. In that mild, he calls it “fully logical that the cupboard has determined within the Spring Memorandum to not finance this anymore.” He emphasizes that it was a call of your entire cupboard, “all 29 ministers”.
Based on him, that doesn’t imply that he can now not adhere to the coalition settlement. It states that the austere reception have to be expanded “to a nationwide community wherein the reception is at all times geared toward return.” He’s now negotiating with municipalities about that sentence, “and particularly that final half”. And he solely desires to shut offers in the event that they actually concentrate on leaving the Netherlands.
‘Not blown again’
Solely then will he search funding for this. As a result of this should come from his funds for the reception of asylum seekers who come right here and will have an opportunity of acquiring a residence allow, whereas the LVVs are involved with reception for many who have exhausted all authorized cures.
The State Secretary emphasised that he was not whistled again yesterday by D66 and ChristenUnie. He did have a dialog with D66 celebration chief Jan Paternotte, who explicitly requested him to make clear “the misperception that I’d not wish to implement the coalition settlement”.
