Dutch to return asylum seekers to Belgium after legal stand-off

The Netherlands is to resume sending single male asylum seekers back to Belgium after the government said it had been given assurances about its southern neighbour’s accommodation facilities.

The Council of State ruled last year that an Afghan man should not be sent to Belgium to await a decision on his asylum application, under the Dublin regulations that say claims should be dealt with by the first safe country refugees arrive in.

The highest Dutch administrative court said Belgian authorities were “indifferent” to “resolving shortcomings in the accommodation and legal protection” for asylum seekers. At least four other cases were thought to be affected.

The ruling concerned the lack of beds available for ”non-vulnerable” male refugees with no families. In one case a Georgian national was not sent to Belgium because a Dutch court said he risked being made homeless.

Asylum minister Bart van den Brink said the two governments had held talks since the judgment last July and he had been assured that “asylum seekers’ basic needs can be met on their return to Belgium”.

“A well functioning European asylum system is crucial for the harmony of our accommodation in the Netherlands,” Van den Brink said. “This is an important aspect of that.”