German officials urge government to end financial support for Ukrainian refugees
Date
6/26/2024 6:59:40 AM
(MENAFN) Several regional interior ministers in Germany are urging the federal government to terminate what they describe as overly generous financial support for Ukrainian refugees. Opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) officials claim these benefits hinder Ukraine's ability to recruit soldiers for its conflict with Russia.
According to Eurostat, by March 2024, approximately 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees were residing in Germany, including an estimated 256,000 men aged 18 to 60. Unlike refugees from other countries, Ukrainians in Germany receive a 'citizen’s benefit' of EUR563 (USD610) per month, which is significantly higher than in other EU states. Earlier this year, Deutsche Welle reported that only 20 percent of Ukrainian refugees in Germany were employed, one of the lowest employment rates compared to other host nations.
Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of Baden-Wuerttemberg, suggested that Germany’s high social benefits might explain why there are more Ukrainian refugees in Germany compared to neighboring countries like France. Strobl argued that these benefits might be sending the wrong message to able-bodied Ukrainian men, potentially impeding their willingness to join the fight in Ukraine. He expressed hope that this issue would be addressed at the ongoing conference of interior ministers in Potsdam.
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