Brussels stopped funding the center that had been helping Ukrainian refugees

The Brussels city authorities have stopped funding and evicted the country’s largest center, “Voice of Ukrainians.”

This was reported by Euractiv.

“After nearly four years of operation, the Ukrainian refugee committee ‘Voice of Ukrainians,’ located in Brussels’ European Quarter, closed on April 1,” said the center’s coordinator, Pavlo Koshka.

The center shut down after receiving a notice from the Brussels-Capital Region’s municipal service terminating its mandate.

The organization provided assistance to Ukrainian refugees, including psychological support in Ukrainian, language courses, and legal consultations.

The eight-story building where the center was located is privately owned, but its expenses were covered with Brussels public funds. It is noted that the center’s annual budget was €800,000, while its monthly expenses, including utilities, were €30,000.

In February, it was reported that the Czech movement Freedom and Direct Democracy was preparing a bill that would tighten the rules for Ukrainian refugees under so-called “temporary protection,” which grants them the right to residence, work, medical care, and education.