COA fined 50,000 euros for exceeding capacity at the asylum center
More than 2000 asylum seekers were forced to spend the night at the registration center in "Ter Apel" in the Groningen province, exceeding the official capacity of the place. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) confirmed that 2034 people stayed at the center, which exceeded the maximum limit agreed upon with the municipality of Westerwolde. As a result, the agency faces a fine of 50,000 euros, the largest penalty imposed so far.
This is the first time since November of last year that the number of people in "Ter Apel" has exceeded 2000. The COA described the situation as unsafe and undesirable, emphasizing that it harms not only asylum seekers but also staff and local residents, warning that overcrowding undermines decent living conditions.
The agency sees that the increase is linked to the closure of several temporary accommodation centers across the country. Municipalities also do not accommodate enough 'status holders' — that is, refugees with residence permits — which leads to them continuing to occupy places in reception centers, thus depriving newcomers of available spaces. Additionally, the increase in asylum applications during the summer has intensified the pressure.
The head of the agency, Milo Skonmaker, called on municipalities to extend the use of temporary shelter centers and to accommodate a larger number of status holders directly. The agency had requested in July from eight provinces to provide 2,600 emergency places, but what was offered did not exceed 800 places, which is far less than required. The COA warned that the pressure on 'Ter Apel' will continue unless additional support is provided.
To alleviate the crisis, preparations are underway to reopen the festival site in "Biedinghausen" this October, where around 1,250 asylum seekers can be accommodated during the winter. The municipality of Dronten still needs to give final approval, but it has expressed optimism, pointing to positive experiences in previous years with this temporary site.