Syrian refugee plan to go ahead in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's government will continue with its predecessors' plans to welcome 60 Syrian refugees to Luxembourg.

There were concerns that the project, announced by immigration minister Nicolas Schmit last August, would be halted by the new government.

However, Luxembourg's Prime Minister confirmed that the country had an international obligation to see the project through.

"I do not know where the discussions are," Xavier Bettel said after a meeting of the Government Council on Friday morning, adding: "But I know we have international obligations and we must respect them."

Luxembourg's immigration ministry said that the “goal still stands” and all that remains to be done is to resolve some technical issues. The refugees are due to arrive in the Grand Duchy in the first half of 2014.

They will be housed in a home in Weilerbach, close to the Luxembourg border with Germany.

The accommodation plans have been criticised by foreign workers' association ASTI, which suggests such an isolated location will do nothing to help the refugees integrate in Luxembourg.

Translated from an article by Charline Lebrun