(de-news.net) – Municipal and city associations in Germany have called on federal and state governments to fully reimburse local authorities for the cost of transitioning Ukrainian refugees from citizen’s money to asylum seeker benefits, while also advocating for continued access to employment and integration support. The proposed reform has sparked political disagreement, with CDU/CSU leaders pushing for broader restrictions and stronger labor incentives, while SPD officials insist on adhering to coalition agreements that limit changes to newly arrived refugees.
Municipal representatives urged the federal and state governments to fully and permanently compensate local authorities for the financial burden resulting from the change for Ukrainian refugees from citizens’ entitlements to asylum seekers benefits. The president of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities emphasized that municipalities should not merely receive partial support but be entirely relieved of these costs, which are projected to amount to 1.3 billion euros annually. The association supports the planned shift in benefits, provided it applies only to newly arriving refugees.
The association also stressed the importance of maintaining immediate access to employment for Ukrainians and advocated for their entitlement to language courses and labor market integration. The association further called for legislative clarity on these provisions and insisted that federal funds allocated to states be passed on to municipalities. Additionally, it demanded a straightforward solution for health insurance coverage to prevent further financial strain on local governments.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group welcomed the benefit change for Ukrainian refugees but criticized the proposed legislation as insufficient. Party representatives argued that the draft law offered only minimal savings and failed to address deeper structural issues, such as Germany’s comparatively low employment rate among Ukrainian refugees. They called for stronger incentives to promote labor market participation and prevent misuse of welfare benefits, while also ensuring meaningful support for integration.
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) had advocated for restricting Ukrainian refugees’ access to asylum seeker benefits exclusively, regardless of their arrival date. However, the coalition agreement stipulates that this change applies only to those arriving after April 1, 2025. On his part, CDU Chancellor’s Office Chief Thorsten Frei supported Söder’s position, arguing that Germany’s comparatively generous benefits hinder labor market integration for Ukrainian refugees relative to other host countries.
In contrast, SPD co-chair and Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas rejected Söder’s proposal, pointing to coalition agreements that limit such changes to new arrivals. She urged political actors to adhere to the coalition’s commitments, cautioning against unnecessary disputes that could destabilize governance. She emphasized that the coalition agreement limits the Bürgergeld withdrawal to newly arrived Ukrainians. SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil expressed similar concerns, suggesting that recent proposals risk undermining coalition cohesion. SPD Parliamentary Secretary Dirk Wiese further criticized the suggested changes, contending that the anticipated savings were overstated and that the administrative burden would be substantial.
