Federal officials urged national administration to shoulder extra expenditures
In a significant shift, Ukrainian refugees in Germany will transition from receiving unemployment benefits to asylum seeker benefits starting April 1st. This change, part of the coalition agreement between the Union and SPD, has sparked discussions about the financial implications for municipalities.
André Berghegger, Managing Director of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, has been vocal about his concerns. He criticizes the temporary protection directive being used for long-term accommodation of refugees, and has called for a fundamental clarification of the refugee status of Ukrainian citizens. Berghegger has also emphasized the urgency for the federal government to promptly reimburse municipalities for all additional costs resulting from this reversal.
Berghegger has not only demanded clarification on benefit entitlement for Ukrainian refugees but also on their access to the labor market. He welcomes the signal to reverse the change in legal status for Ukrainian refugees but emphasizes the need for a clear understanding of the financial arrangements.
While the exact measures the federal government is taking to address the financial burden on municipalities are not explicitly stated in the search results, it is common practice for federal governments to provide additional funding or targeted grants to offset increased local service costs when the legal status of refugees changes. This could include expanding federally funded support services such as housing, health, and language training to reduce municipal expenses.
The federal government is expected to coordinate with provincial or regional governments to share costs and responsibility, and facilitate integration programs with federal financial support to minimize longer-term local costs. However, without explicit information from the search results, it is unknown if or how the German federal government has implemented such measures specifically for Ukrainian refugees in the situation described.
In response to the Association of Towns and Municipalities' appeal, the federal government has announced plans to compensate municipalities for the financial burden of asylum seeker benefits. The black-red coalition has pledged to cover the additional costs incurred by this change in legal status, but the federal government is now responsible for honoring this commitment.
For the latest and more detailed information, it is recommended to consult official federal government sources like the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community or the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
- "André Berghegger, while demanding clarity on the refugee status of Ukrainian citizens and benefit entitlement, has also expressed concern about their access to the labor market, emphasizing the need for a clear understanding of the financial arrangements in this respect."
- "Following the Association of Towns and Municipalities' appeal, the federal government has announced plans to compensate municipalities for the financial burden of asylum seeker benefits, with the black-red coalition pledging to cover the additional costs associated with changing the legal status of Ukrainian refugees."
