Luxexpo had made an extra hall available to the foreign ministry as a welcome centre for refugees fleeing Ukraine, providing accommodation for around 500 people before they can be moved to more permanent lodgings.

From the beginning, the contract was set to conclude on 10 April. “Without surprise and in compliance with the agreements concluded, the site was vacated by the fixed date,” Morgan Gromy, director general of Luxexpo The Box, said in a statement on Thursday.

This came after claims that refugees were kicked out of the hall for a dog show, which is scheduled to take place on 16 and 17 April.

Foreign minister Jean Asselborn (LSAP) during a said that he had given Luxexpo his word that they would be able to use their premises for events they had planned. A temporary shelter has since been erected on Rue Tony Rollman in Kirchberg.

Around 200 refugees had to be moved from Luxexpo to a school sports hall before being moved again to Kirchberg for the events venue to be vacated on time. This was after plans for a temporary shelter in Contern fell through over health and safety concerns at the hall that was supposed to host the refugees.

Around 4,500 refugees have arrived from Ukraine in Luxembourg so far. They are housed in private accommodation as well as 19 facilities operated by Luxembourg’s national welcome office. This includes hotels rented by communes to help make room.

The foreign ministry told Delano that it did not know whether the hall used to welcome refugees would be used for the dog show. Luxexpo did not reply to multiple requests for comment. 

The events venue has numerous fairs scheduled over the coming weeks, including hosting the second round of voting in the France’s presidential elections for French people living in Luxembourg.

Additional reporting by Tracy Heindrichs.