Germany asks the EU to pay for Ukrainian refugees
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels this week with financial demands for refugees. According to the head of the government of Germany, the European Union should provide additional funding for the countries that accepted the most refugees from Ukraine.
Scholz stated his position in an official letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Together with the Chancellor of Germany, the letter was signed by Donald Tusk and Piotr Fiala, the heads of the governments of Poland and the Czech Republic.
The German government came to the decision to submit financial demands to the EU after tense discussions on the country’s budget, which took place in Berlin the other day.
“Our countries have sheltered the largest share of Ukrainian refugees, so I, together with my colleagues, believe that it is time to decide on the provision of special financial support by Europe for these countries. This will help finance social assistance for refugees, vocational training, language courses and other important programs for individuals that received protection status” – said the chancellor of Germany.
Discussions about Ukrainian refugees in Germany have arisen more and more frequently in recent months. Some politicians from the center-right opposition, as well as Scholz’s partners in the liberal coalition Free Democratic Party, said that the government should reduce the amount of social benefits for Ukrainians who have not yet found work in Germany. Some members of the Bundestag even proposed deporting refugees who failed to find employment. However, the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany rejected such proposals.
We remind you that Ukrainians in the EU countries are granted the status of temporary protection, not refugees. This implies broader rights for our fellow citizens, in particular, the opportunity to work and freely choose a place of residence. In Germany, this also implies a larger amount of social benefits.
Bürgergeld assistance for Ukrainians, it is currently 563 euros per month for single persons, 506 euros for partners leading a joint household, 471 euros for children aged 14 to 17 years, 390 euros for children from 6 to 13 years old, and 357 euros for for children up to 5 years old. In addition, the state covers the costs of housing and health insurance.