Volunteers prepare meals for migrants in Calais (illustration).

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M.Libert / 20 Minutes

  • A prefectural decree prohibits non-state-mandated associations from distributing meals to migrants in Calais.

  • Entered into force at the beginning of September, this ban was extended, Monday, until mid-November.

  • The administrative court and the Council of State had successively rejected the appeals of the associations against the prefectural decree.

The prefecture is still playing extra time.

On Monday, the prefectural decree prohibiting the free distribution of food on the public highway in Calais was once again extended.

The first such measure, which entered into force at the beginning of September, was unsuccessfully challenged in the administrative court by migrant aid associations.

On September 10, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais had therefore issued a decree which prohibited associations not mandated by the state from distributing food to migrants in certain sectors of the city.

Among other arguments, the representative of the State had advanced the health crisis of the coronavirus and disturbances to public order.

The associations, ten, had filed an appeal before the administrative court of Lille, then before the Council of State.

They had both been rejected.

Since then, the prefecture has renewed its decree several times, the last extension comes into force on Tuesday until November 16.

Nearly 50 streets, boulevards and quays concerned

However, the new text provides for extending the perimeter concerned by this ban.

In the city center of Calais, 23 streets, boulevards and quays are now included.

In the Beau-marais sector, there are now 26 in all.

The decree also specifies that within this perimeter, school, university and sports facilities, including their parking lots and access roads, are included in the ban.

The representative of the State said all the same that migrants are not left without food.

The association mandated by the prefecture, La vie active, “carries out“ food ”marauding allowing a mobile meal distribution in order to meet migrants near the places of life identified,” assures the prefect in a statement.

He also puts forward the figure of 95,175 meals distributed by this same association since the beginning of September.

Society

Calais: The State will ensure the distribution of meals to migrants from March 6

Politics

Migrants in Calais: rebellious parliamentarians distribute meals, against the ban

  • Society

  • Meal

  • Calais

  • Migrants

  • Lille