Crisis affecting the reception of asylum seekers in the Netherlands – EU Commission answer

EN
E-002850/2022
Answer given by Ms Johansson
on behalf of the European Commission
(18.10.2022)

The Commission is closely following developments in the Netherlands and is in close contact with the Dutch authorities to assess and address the issue. On 6 May 2022, the Netherlands signed an operational plan with the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) to expand reception capacity. The Dutch authorities have also informed of the opening of a second reception centre in autumn¹, which aims to reduce the pressure on the reception capacity, and of the opening of a new facility near Ter Apel.

Articles 28 and 29 of the Directive 2013/33/EU² oblige Member States to put in place relevant mechanisms to ensure that appropriate guidance, monitoring and control of the level of reception conditions, to ensure that authorities and other organisations have received the necessary basic training and to allocate the necessary resources. The Dutch authorities have provided the Commission with an overview of the measures that are being taken to remedy the situation and guarantee the necessary material reception conditions to all applicants of international protection. This is without prejudice to further assessments and the Commission’s prerogative to open infringement procedures if deemed necessary.

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1 In the Noordoostpolder municipality, in Flevoland.
2 Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p. 96.