CSU intends to revoke civil privileges for Ukrainian individuals capable of military service
In Germany, approximately 150,000 Ukrainian men of military conscription age (roughly 18 to 63 years old) are currently receiving social benefits, amounting to around €1.3 billion annually. These benefits primarily include Bürgergeld, a form of citizen’s basic social support.
This policy has sparked significant political debate, with calls from the CSU party and some MPs to end these benefits for able-bodied men who are presumably subject to military conscription in Ukraine. The rationale behind this argument is that these men should be serving in Ukraine’s military rather than receiving taxpayer-funded support in Germany, as the ongoing conflict continues.
On the Ukrainian side, the military conscription policy has been tightened, now including men aged 25 to 60, with general mobilization in force since 2022. Ukraine has also started recruiting men aged 18-24 under contract with special incentives, aiming to bolster frontline infantry brigades. Despite these measures, recruitment difficulties persist.
External expert Stephan Mayer has expressed outrage at the number of Ukrainian men receiving social benefits in Germany, stating that it cannot be acceptable for such a large number of men of military age to receive benefits while war is raging in Ukraine. Mayer also noted that almost half of these men appear to be living at the expense of taxpayers.
However, it's important to note that some of these men are staying legally in Germany due to health restrictions, while others are exempt from military service due to family circumstances. The Ukrainian Embassy has emphasized that one cannot accuse all Ukrainian men en masse of breaking the law or evading mobilization. The Embassy has also stated that the stay of Ukrainian men abroad is not prohibited.
On average, job centers paid 882 euros per month to each of these benefit recipients in March, including housing costs, additional needs, and one-time payments. The Ukrainian Embassy did not comment on the number of Ukrainian men who have entered Germany since the start of the war or the total costs of social benefits paid to Ukrainian men in Germany.
This continuing political discussion reflects the difficult balance between humanitarian support for refugees and the pressures of the ongoing conflict and military service expectations. The debate is likely to continue as both Germany and Ukraine grapple with the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.
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- The ongoing political debate in Germany, as evidenced by the CSU party and some MPs' calls to end benefits for able-bodied Ukrainian men, is deeply rooted in the tension between war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, as these men are often subject to military conscription in Ukraine but are currently receiving Bürgergeld and other social benefits in Germany.
- The discussion surrounding the social benefits received by approximately 150,000 Ukrainian men in Germany, as highlighted by external expert Stephan Mayer, has expanded beyond general-news to encompass this intricate web of politics, as it not only questions the rationale behind providing support to men of military age during war but also raises questions about the equitable distribution of resources and the responsibility of individuals towards their home country.
