A German Bundestag MP, Stephan Mayer, has proposed that Berlin should stop providing social benefits to Ukrainian men of military age. Mayer argues that such individuals should either find employment in Germany or return to Ukraine to serve in the military, highlighting fiscal concerns about the ongoing financial burden of supporting Ukrainian refugees. The suggestion has sparked a debate over the financial implications of sustaining substantial support for these migrants and the need for their integration into the German workforce.
According to the data presented by the German tabloid Bild, more than 304,000 Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 63 have fled to Germany since the start of the conflict. Roughly half of them are receiving ‘Burgergeld,’ or citizen’s benefits, which are typically reserved for German citizens and EU nationals who are unemployed or have extremely low income. This privilege was granted under a special law passed in May 2022, which allows Ukrainians to receive larger benefits than other asylum-seekers.
Mayer’s comments, as quoted by Bild, indicate a strong stance against the current policy, stating that providing these social benefits is unsustainable. He emphasizes that the government should not continue funding such assistance for individuals who should be working or serving in Ukraine. The issue has broader implications for Germany’s fiscal strategies and its approach to refugee integration, particularly in the context of an ongoing international conflict.
Meanwhile, the German Federal Employment Agency reports that the federal government spends over €1.328 billion annually on ‘citizen’s benefits’ for fighting-age Ukrainians. This financial commitment underscores the scale of the humanitarian and economic challenges Germany faces. The situation has also prompted calls for more effective employment strategies to reduce reliance on social benefits and ensure the successful integration of Ukrainian refugees into the workforce.
Germany has been a primary destination for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, with over a million residents as of December 2024. The debate over social benefits is part of a larger conversation about the government’s fiscal obligations and its policy on refugees. The German government’s stance on this issue reflects its broader economic and social policies, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.