The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) pays the municipality of Westerwolde a penalty of 100,000 euros. The penalty was imposed at the end of last year when the national registration center in Ter Apel was overcrowded a number of times. Hundreds of newly arrived asylum seekers were forced to sleep on camp beds.
The COA previously objected to the penalty imposed by the municipality, but has now decided to pay. Spokesperson Alet Bouwmeester says he realizes that the municipality has incurred extra costs and has felt great pressure. “COA is aware of this and considers compensation that benefits the residents of Ter Apel appropriate,” she said. RTV North† “A legal battle between two administrative bodies is not part of this.”
Both in October as in November it came to a complete standstill in Ter Apel a number of times. Because there was hardly any space in other municipalities in the Netherlands, everyone was forced to stay in the application center. There is room for 2000 people in Ter Apel, sometimes 600 more. The municipal permit states that 275 people may stay in the night shelter. That number sometimes doubled.
Fights and ME
In the asylum seekers’ center, but also in the village, the overcrowded reception led to tensions. There were fights and the ME had to go to Ter Apel to restore peace.
End of November, beginning of December began to impose penalty payments on the COA of 20,000 euros per night on the municipality. Westerwolde pointed out that the consequences of an overcrowded shelter can be serious. A GGD report showed that hygiene measures were not being observed properly. The risk of spreading, for example, corona or diarrhea would also be high.
Quality of life in Ter Apel
At first COA objected to the imposed penalty by invoking force majeure. So now it is paid. The municipality of Westerwolde is delighted. According to a spokesperson, the municipality will use the money for “quality of life in Ter Apel”.
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