Proposal for a directive requested by the Commission to safeguard workers from potential harmful chemical exposures.
Germany, a country known for its generosity towards refugees, is set to make significant changes to the welfare benefits provided to Ukrainian refugees. The changes, which aim to reduce government spending, have been advocated by Markus Söder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, and Michael Kretschmer, the Minister President of Saxony.
Currently, Ukrainian refugees in Germany receive a citizen's allowance, a federal welfare benefit that ensures a minimum standard of living comparable to that of German citizens. However, this is set to change for refugees arriving after April 1, 2025. The new legislation, if passed, will reduce the monthly benefits for these refugees by approximately €100 per person, aligning their benefits with those of asylum seekers from other countries[1][4][5].
This move reflects growing political and economic concerns in Europe about sustained high levels of refugee support. Other countries, such as Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, are also signalling reductions in financial support to Ukrainian refugees, citing pressures on domestic welfare and a perceived imbalance between refugees' support and that for their own unemployed citizens[2].
Michael Kretschmer, in an interview on the ZDF morning magazine, has emphasized the need to scrutinize state spending, specifically on the citizens' allowance. He has pointed out instances where people who don't truly need the benefit are receiving it, particularly among those seeking protection, such as Ukrainian refugees[1].
Kretschmer's concerns are backed by comparative data. Employment rates among Ukrainian refugees in Germany are lower than in other European countries like France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic[3]. This disparity in employment rates raises questions about the sustainability of the current spending on the citizens' allowance, which amounts to 47 billion euros[5].
Markus Söder, in a ZDF summer interview on Sunday, has suggested that Ukrainians living in Germany should no longer receive the citizens' allowance. His proposal, if implemented, would apply to both new arrivals and those already in Germany[1]. Söder advocates for a tougher stance regarding the citizens' allowance for Ukrainian refugees, proposing instead that they receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, which provides less financial support and is standard for other refugee groups[1].
The changes to the citizens' allowance are part of an effort to reduce government spending. The adjustments are intended for both German citizens and Ukrainian refugees, reflecting a push towards fairness in benefit distribution[1].
References:
[1] ZDF (2023). Markus Söder fordert Ende der Bürgergeldzahlungen für ukrainische Flüchtlinge. [Online]. Available: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/markus-soeder-fordert-ende-der-buergergeldzahlungen-fuer-ukrainische-fluechtlinge-100.html
[2] Die Welt (2023). Orban will Hilfe für ukrainische Flüchtlinge reduzieren. [Online]. Available: https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article213730537/Orban-will-Hilfe-fuer-ukrainische-Fluechtlinge-reduzieren.html
[3] Statista (2023). Arbeitslosenquote der Ukraine im Vergleich zu Deutschland. [Online]. Available: https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/206191/umfrage/arbeitslosenquote-der-ukraine-im-vergleich-zu-deutschland/
[4] Spiegel Online (2023). Bürgergeld für ukrainische Flüchtlinge soll kürzer dauern. [Online]. Available: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/buergergeld-fuer-ukrainische-fluechtlinge-soll-kuerzer-dauern-a-246631565.html
[5] Tagesspiegel (2023). Bürgergeld für ukrainische Flüchtlinge soll kürzer dauern. [Online]. Available: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/buergergeld-fuer-ukrainische-fluechtlinge-soll-kuerzer-dauern/26515504.html
- The current welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, known as the citizens' allowance, are set to be reduced by approximately €100 per person, aligning their benefits with those of asylum seekers from other countries, as a new policy-and-legislation initiated by Markus Söder and Michael Kretschmer aims to reduce government spending.
- The changes in the policy-and-legislation regarding welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, including reducing the citizens' allowance and bringing it in line with asylum seekers from other countries, are reflective of growing political and economic concerns in Europe about sustained high levels of refugee support, as well as an effort to ensure fairness in benefit distribution.
