FDP calls for massive cuts: Ukrainian refugees could soon receive less financial aid from Germany.
In the ongoing debate concerning the financial policies of Germany’s troubled Traffic Light Coalition, FDP budget authority Frank Schäffler has proposed a contentious measure. As reported by Bild, Schäffler is pushing for reductions in the social welfare system, specifically targeting the discontinuation of the ‘Bürgergeld’ (citizen’s allowance) for Ukrainian refugees. Currently, Ukrainians fleeing the conflict are eligible to receive just over 500 euros monthly, in addition to housing support and other subsidies. Schäffler argues that their benefits should align more closely with those provided to asylum seekers, potentially limiting their financial aid to a maximum of 410 euros monthly, including accommodation expenses.
Germany Faces Unexpected Financial Challenges
The German government is grappling with a 17 billion euro financial shortfall. Bild reports that coalition partners have yet to agree on where to make cuts. The SPD insists on not reducing social benefits, despite expected high expenses in 2024. The ‘Bürgergeld’ alone is projected to cost approximately 38.7 billion euros.
Call for Downsizing the Federal Employment Agency
Furthermore, as reported by Bild, Schäffler is advocating for a reduction in the size of the Federal Employment Agency. He points out that the number of unemployed has halved over the past 17 years, while the number of employees at the agency has risen to over 100,000. Schäffler calls for a “significant downsizing” of the agency and reduced spending on “new social expenditures,” focusing instead on investments in roads and railways. These proposals by Schäffler, as reported by Bild, raise questions about the balance between austerity measures and social support.
Image: © Raimond Spekking, contact point for refugees from Ukraine, at Cologne Central Station-1298, via Wikimedia Commons, (no changes made)