Germany proposed to cancel benefits for Ukrainian refugees

In Germany, it was proposed to cancel the payment of benefits to Ukrainian refugees. The idea was put forward by members of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union Party)/CSU (Christian Social Union Party) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) factions. This was reported by the Focus edition on Thursday, March 20.

"Many politicians hope that if Ukrainians stop receiving a citizen's income in the future, this will save money in the social budget, more refugees will look for work, and some may even return to their homeland," the publication says.

It is noted that such a decision will also eliminate the inequality between Ukrainians and refugees from other countries. Currently, Ukrainian citizens receive benefits immediately, while others must first go through the asylum procedure.

"Now there are two possibilities: either a future government under the leadership of the likely Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU leader. — Ed.) will insist that the EU allow the directive to expire in 2026. From now on, newly arrived Ukrainians will have to go through the asylum procedure, and therefore they will not have a direct right to receive benefits for citizens," the article says.

Another proposed solution to the problem is to amend legislation that would make it possible to stop paying benefits without violating the EU asylum Directive.

At the same time, according to politicians, an important advantage will be the search for work by Ukrainians who are now living on benefits.

"It is necessary to ensure that all refugees with reliable prospects of staying in the country can quickly find work," said Andre Bergegger, a representative of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities.

Earlier, on March 8, Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament and a member of Alternative for Germany, said that the injection of funds into the Ukrainian conflict was destroying the German economy.