Minister Jean Asselborn speaking in Bascharage; Credit: MAEE

Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has reported that, during an information session with a view to the opening of a new accommodation structure for applicants for international protection (DPI) of the National Reception Office (ONA) in Bascharage, Luxembourg's Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Jean Asselborn, was able to inform the residents of the municipality on the precise modalities of this new structure, exchange with the residents and answer their questions.

The meeting took place in the presence of Michel Wolter, mayor of the municipality of Bascharage, Christof Müller of the Luxembourg Red Cross, as well as several other partners of the ministry involved in the project of the new structure.

The information session, which took place in compliance with health measures to ensure the safety of all participants, allowed residents who had previously registered to ask questions of Minister Asselborn and officials. Minister Asselborn praised the interest and solidarity shown by citizens during this very encouraging exchange of views. He took the opportunity to thank the mayor of the municipality of Bascharage, Michel Wolter, as well as the municipal authorities for their help and contribution to the collective efforts aimed at guaranteeing a dignified reception of applicants for international protection.

The future accommodation structure for applicants for international protection will have a capacity of 66 beds and will open its doors in April 2021. It will be managed by the Luxembourg Red Cross and will accommodate only families. This is a so-called "temporary" structure, in which asylum-seekers remain until a response to their application for international protection is received.

This new structure will be the 56th structure under the responsibility of the National Reception Office, provided for hosting asylum-seekers. Since the migration crisis in 2015, the Grand Duchy has experienced a relatively constant flow of new arrivals of applicants for international protection. It is thanks to the solidarity efforts of municipal actors that a dignified welcome for newcomers has been ensured.

Minister Asselborn recalled that the challenge remains great. In fact, the capacities of accommodation structures remain very limited, particularly in view of the difficulty for beneficiaries of international protection (BPI) to leave the structures. In this context, Minister Asselborn reiterated his call to the municipalities to participate in the solidarity effort and to provide sites for the construction or development of accommodation structures for applicants for international protection. Several financial and administrative aids are available to municipalities hosting asylum-seekers.