A debate has emerged regarding the financial support provided to Ukrainian refugees in Germany, prompting discussion about the future of social welfare programs. Steffen Bilger, parliamentary director of the largest opposition group, the CDU/CSU faction, described Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder’s proposal to halt citizen’s income payments to Ukrainian refugees as “worthy of consideration.
Bilger highlighted Söder’s concern that the proportion of Ukrainian refugees currently employed in Germany is significantly lower than in many other European nations. This issue, he noted, was previously acknowledged within the governing coalition agreement. The coalition is already engaged in a broader review of citizen’s income, aiming to restructure it into a new form of basic security with potential cost savings.
He expressed frustration with what he perceived as attempts to prematurely stifle this necessary debate through general accusations. Bilger recalled previous discussions, dating back as far as a year ago, where similar concerns were voiced by Social Democratic (SPD) state premiers like Anke Rehlinger and Michael Woidke, who had questioned the initial inclusion of Ukrainians in the citizen’s income system.
Responding to criticism from Green Party parliamentary vice president, Andreas Audretsch, who warned that cutting citizen’s income would negatively impact employment prospects for Ukrainians, Bilger acknowledged the current provision’s shortcomings. While the Union faction opposes abruptly removing support, he emphasized the need to improve the existing employment support mechanisms, stating that current efforts have evidently not been as effective as desired, particularly when compared to outcomes observed in other European countries.