The amount reported by the COA indicates in its annual report that from 1.6 billion euros in 2022 it reached 2.7 billion euros in 2023.

In 2023 the expenditures on the refugee intake grew again compared to 2022, partly due to the accelerated increase in the number of people in refugee reception centers, the message says.

According to the table presented in the report, in 2021 the country’s expenditures on the reception of refugees constituted 726 million euros, in 2022 that figure grew to 1.6 billion euros, and in 2023 it reached the point of 2.7 billion euros.

It indicates that the increase in expenses is due to the high cost of temporary refugee accommodation centers that are intended for a short stay, until the asylum seekers obtain permanent housing.

However, many of them have been in such shelters for months waiting for their claims to be considered.

Thus, each refugee in the acceptance center spends, on average, 69,400 euros per year, while the cost of living in regular housing is 30,400 euros per year.

Faced with the deficit of permanent acceptance centers in this country, in 2023 the COA had to significantly expand the capacity of temporary shelters.

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