More than 1 million Ukrainians sought refuge in Germany after
Moscow's invasion in February 2022, and the number of refugees
from other countries jumped by around 50% in 2022 compared with
2019, data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf)
showed.
For years following the 2015-16 refugee influx, when more than a
million refugees arrived in Germany fleeing war and prosecution
in the Middle East, Berlin had provided the states with a
monthly per capita flat rate based on the number of refugees and
took care of accommodation and integration costs.
But with a drop in incoming refugees in recent years, the
country's 16 states pushed Berlin to earmark a fixed amount for
refugees' expenses regardless of their number, changing the
financing policy in 2021.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed Berlin to spend around 28
billion euros on receiving refugees and tackling the root causes
that drive people to flee, of which more than 15 billion euros
went to states and municipalities.
But in light of a gap of 20 billion euros in next year's federal
budget and the fact that Ukrainians have direct access to the
national welfare system, Berlin plans to cut the states'
earmarked refugee money.
The government will halt its contribution to the costs of caring
for and integrating the 1.08 million Ukrainian refugees as well,
a government source told Reuters on Monday.
The federal government will cut refugee costs to 1.25 billion
euros for the years from 2024, from 3.75 billion euros this
year, a spokesperson for the finance ministry said.
"We emphasize again that the states must provide their
municipalities with the necessary financial resources," the
spokesperson said, adding that a meeting of the federal and
states' governments on Monday failed to reach agreement ahead of
a planned consultation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November.
States say more funding is still needed to cover other indirect
expenses such as schooling for refugee children.
($1 = 0.9447 euros)
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Riham AlkousaaEditing by Miranda
Murray and Ros Russell)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
![](column_spacer.png)
|
|