The Council of State is very critical of the distribution law with which the cabinet wants to enforce reception places for asylum seekers.
“The proposed procedure is unnecessarily complex and raises penetrating questions as to whether it is feasible.” According to the advisory body, the proposal must be amended before it can be submitted to the House of Representatives.
According to the cabinet’s main adviser, the complexity lies in the fact that municipalities can offer reception places to the minister on the one hand and receive a bonus in doing so, and on the other hand, at a later time, have to coordinate within the province which municipalities will realize the other reception places.
“This leads to a lack of clarity about the precise task. The allocation procedure and the built-in financial incentives also have a competitive element and do not contribute to the solidarity between municipalities that the government has in mind.”
Role COA
The exact role of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and the provinces is also unclear, the Council believes. “The period within which the municipalities must realize the reception places is also not clear. That clarity is necessary.” The proposal must be further elaborated and more thought must be given to financial preconditions, the consultant believes.
“The Department recommends a simpler system of the bill and points to the procedure that applies to housing status holders,” said the Council of State. It is causing headaches for the cabinet, because the bill is desperately needed due to the enormous shortage of reception places.
State Secretary Van der Burg (Asylum) said in a response that he is studying the advice. “Our aim is to send the bill to the House of Representatives as soon as possible. We are not getting ahead of the content and how, what, when.”