German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner proposes to introduce a new legal status for refugees from Ukraine and deprive them of civil rights

The German Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner, in his latest statements, outlined an ambitious plan to change the approach to the integration of Ukrainian refugees in Germany. That’s what he’s about stated Wirtschaftswoche magazine. His proposal is based on the need to optimize the social costs that the country bears to support Ukrainians, and to create conditions for greater participation of this group in the German economy. The main idea of ​​the reform is to introduce a new legal status for Ukrainian refugees, which will allow them to stay in the country without providing a full package of civil rights, but at the same time will facilitate their employment.

Offer details

New legal status

Lindner proposes to create a new category of legal status for Ukrainian refugees, which will not involve going through the standard asylum procedure. According to his vision, Ukrainians will not receive the full set of rights and social guarantees that are provided to citizens or asylum seekers in Germany. This means that although Ukrainians will have the right to stay in the country, they will not automatically receive a full package of social benefits.

The peculiarity of this legal status will be that Ukrainians will have access to limited social benefits, similar to those granted to asylum seekers, but with certain conditions, which will include elements of labor market policies. This approach will attract more people to work, and not keep them on social assistance. Ukrainians will have access to employment policy tools, but they will not receive assistance that provides a minimum subsistence level without the need to work. This approach is designed to stimulate the active participation of refugees in the labor market and reduce their dependence on state benefits.

Reform of social assistance

The minister pays considerable attention to the issue of social benefits for refugees. Lindner noted that the current welfare system is too generous and creates a situation where people have no incentive to work. Currently, municipalities cover the actual costs of housing and heating for refugees, which can vary greatly depending on the region and living conditions. Lindner proposes to replace this benefit system with a flat rate housing allowance, which would mean that refugees would receive a certain fixed amount regardless of actual housing costs. This, in his opinion, will force refugees to be more rational when choosing housing and, perhaps, to choose smaller or cheaper options.

According to Lindner, such an innovation will significantly reduce the state’s expenses for supporting refugees. He believes this could save billions of euros, as refugees would be forced to make decisions about where they live based on a fixed amount of benefits. Lindner emphasizes that such a system can also motivate refugees to look for work faster, because they will not be able to rely entirely on public assistance.

Duration of receiving assistance

Lindner emphasized that the problem is also that many Ukrainians continue to receive assistance even after employment. According to his data, about half of those who start work are still on welfare six months later. This is due to low wages or part-time employment, which often does not allow covering all necessary living expenses. This has a particularly hard impact on families with children, who have additional expenses.

Possible consequences

Lindner’s proposal aroused considerable public interest, as it involves serious changes in the approach to German social policy towards Ukrainian refugees. On the one hand, it can reduce the financial burden on the country’s budget and contribute to a better integration of refugees into the labor market. On the other hand, critics may argue that such measures will lead to a deterioration of social protection for the most vulnerable sections of the population, such as families with children or people who cannot find well-paid work.

Lindner’s proposal reflects the German government’s desire to find a balance between social costs and the need to stimulate economic activity among refugees. This issue will be discussed both at the level of national politicians and in the European context, as many countries face similar challenges in their refugee support systems.