Container Opposition in Speyer: A Legal Battle over Asylum Accommodation

The city of Speyer in Rhineland-Palatinate is pushing forward with plans to build containers for asylum seekers on a public transport company site, despite opposition from some residents. In March 2024, the municipal council of Speyer approved the construction of an asylum accommodation in container form on a property owned by the municipal transport company.

However, this decision was met with resistance from a citizens’ initiative called “Speyer can do more than just containers!” who argued that it was unnecessary and not a long-term solution. The group took their concerns to the administrative court in Neustadt, Rhineland-Palatinate.

The court rejected the citizens’ petition against the accommodation of asylum seekers in containers as inadmissible, citing lack of urgency as the reason for rejecting it. The property designated for the asylum accommodation had not been prepared or used for this purpose since the decision was made. Additionally, alternative decentralized accommodation options exist.

Despite this setback, opponents of the container accommodation plan may still appeal the decision to the Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate. However, it is important to note that previous decisions have shown that accommodation for refugees can be provided without using containers.