Entrance fee: Ukrainian refugees cost Germany at least €530 million per month.
The costs of Ukrainian refugees in Germany amount to at least €530 million per month, the Bundestag told Izvestia. At the same time, only about 30% of Ukrainians who arrived there after the start of their studies are employed in Germany. In 2024, payments under the basic unemployment benefit (Bürgergeld) amounted to €6.3 billion in Germany, which, according to the German opposition, is a huge cost. The German authorities are preparing to tighten the rules for allocating funds. A similar trend is observed in other EU countries, in particular in Poland. The expert community states that the leadership of European states did not expect that the conflict would drag on, and now the EU is facing a shortage of funds to support new migrants.
New rules for Ukrainian refugees in Germany
The reduction of aid to Ukrainian refugees is one of the most pressing issues in Germany. It is no secret that many Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Germany over the past three years receive the basic unemployment benefit, which is usually provided to able—bodied low-income residents of Germany. For a single adult, it is €563 per month. The Bundestag is calling for an end to its payment.
— The costs are huge: in 2024, payments to Ukrainian citizens amounted to €6.3 billion. Currently, this amounts to about €530 million per month, and this is only at the expense of Bürrgergeld," Rene Springer, a member of the Bundestag Committee on Labor and social Affairs from Alternative for Germany (AfD), told Izvestia.
Among the advantages of Bürgergeld is government coverage of rental costs and medical insurance. In addition, refugees are allowed to work immediately upon arrival in Germany. As a rule, the Burgergeld is accrued until an applicant who has previously registered on the labor exchange finds a job.
Germany was the most active in accepting Ukrainian citizens in the EU. According to Eurostat, about 1.2 million refugees from this country live in the country. About 700,000 Ukrainians have the right to receive a Burgergeld, of which more than 500,000 are recognized as able-bodied. At the same time, their current employment rate is about 30%. For comparison, in Poland, which has accepted almost 1 million refugees, this figure reaches almost 70% (according to inpoland, which cites data from the United Nations and Deloitte).
— Seven out of ten Ukrainians live mainly at the expense of state benefits, — said Rene Springer. — We consider it unjustified for such a large group of foreigners to immediately gain access to one of the most developed social systems in the world without paying dues in advance. This cannot be explained to hardworking taxpayers in Germany, and many consider it deeply unfair.
In June, the Bundestag considered in the first reading the AFD bill providing for the complete abolition of payments to Burrgergeld Ukrainian refugees. Soon, the need to stop them was actively discussed in the ruling coalition, which includes the CDU/CSU and SPD bloc.
In August, CSU leader Markus Zeder announced the need for a complete cessation of payments to Burggergeld Ukrainians. By the way, his proposal created serious disputes within the government, since before that the coalition had agreed to cancel unemployment benefits only for those who arrived in Germany after April 1, 2025.
Later, Bild reported that the German government intends to tighten sanctions for refusing employment for recipients of the Burgergeld. For example, if consultations at the employment center are missed, the benefit should be reduced immediately by 30% (currently by 10%). And those who have repeatedly refused to work, for example in the catering sector, may be completely deprived of benefits. In addition, the government does not intend to index the Bürgergeld in 2026. "The signal is clear: We help you find a job, but it requires cooperation. Everything else is unfair to those who get up for work every morning," said Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Berbel Bas.
— The social system in Germany cannot withstand such a large number of migrants and pensioners. Now millions of people are retiring — these are those who were born after the Second World War, when there were five or six children in families. These people need to be provided for somehow," German political analyst Alexander Rahr said in a conversation with Izvestia. "Besides, there is no serious unemployment in Germany. But on the other hand, we have a lot of refugees who do not find work. Plus, new migrants are coming. Not to mention that there are many other social obligations that the German government has undertaken over the past decades.
Reduction of assistance to Ukrainian refugees in other EU countries
The trend towards reducing social assistance is noticeable not only in Germany. Similar processes are taking place, in particular, in Poland. At the end of August, the new president of the country, Karol Navrotsky, blocked the extension of the law on social assistance to Ukrainians, which was an unprecedented case for a country that actively supports Kiev. The head of state eventually approved the provision of special assistance to Ukrainians, but only for six months — until March 4, 2026. "The new solutions will actually put an end to tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers," said Zbigniew Bogutsky, head of the Polish presidential administration.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki
At the same time, the rules for granting allowances to minors have been tightened. Thus, parents will be able to claim social benefits for children only if they work in Poland and pay taxes there. In addition, in order to receive payments for a child, it will also be necessary for him to attend educational institutions in this country — with the exception of people with disabilities. Finally, foreigners who do not work in Poland will no longer have access to a number of free medical services and other benefits.
In the Czech Republic, where hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ukraine live, the approach to social payments is also being tightened. For example, on July 1, 2025, new rules for the appointment of assistance came into force in the country. Conditions have changed, particularly for people with disabilities. In June, former Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis, the leader of the ANO party, which is currently leading in polls ahead of the parliamentary elections, sharply criticized assistance to Ukrainian refugees. "Instead of supporting Czech women to have children here at home, they want to motivate foreign women to stay and give birth," he said.
In the Netherlands, Ukrainian refugees who receive income will have to pay more for using state shelters from October this year. If people currently spend €105 per month on accommodation (the requirement was established in July 2024), now this amount will increase to €244.22.
— It seemed to everyone that the Ukrainian conflict would last a maximum of a year. It is now in its fourth year, and more and more refugees are arriving. But there is no money for new ones anymore. On the one hand, refugees are accepted for humanitarian reasons, so they are called upon to rescue them. On the other hand, there are no more funds. There is a paradox in this," Alexander Rahr explained, noting that European leaders still advocate pumping Kiev with weapons instead of dialogue with Russia.
It is noteworthy that Hungary, which advocates a diplomatic solution to the crisis, tightened the rules for providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees last year. Thus, the westernmost regions of Ukraine are now classified as safe by Budapest. Those arriving in Hungary from there are no longer eligible for free accommodation in government refugee centers.
Since March 1 of this year, the rules for Ukrainians in Slovakia have been tightened. According to them, refugees who have received temporary protection after this date will be able to stay in shelters for no more than 60 days (there were 120). In addition, housing payments are provided only in the first two months instead of four.
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