Germany plans to halve the federal aid it provides to federal states to cover the costs of accepting and integrating refugees in 2024. The reason is budget cuts amid soaring inflation after years of high spending.
On Monday, September 25, Berlin informed the federal states that it would allocate a maximum of €1.7 billion to support refugee expenses in 2024, according to compared to €3.75 billion this year.
The federal government has not promised that funding will remain at 2023 levels in subsequent years.
We are currently watching
A Treasury spokesman said that a meeting between the federal and state governments on these issues did not produce results ahead of a planned consultation with the chancellor in November.
The interlocutor added that, in essence, the federal states are responsible for housing and caring for refugees.
The government will also cancel its contribution to the costs of care and integration of Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainians sought refuge in various European countries, particularly Germany, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Their support has influenced cities and municipalities across the country. 16 German states demanded more federal funds to cover the costs of refugees in 2024.
Recall that by the end of September, municipalities in the Netherlands will set up hundreds of additional places to receive Ukrainian refugees.
Estonia recently extended the period of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees is up to one and a half years. The new rules came into force on September 10, 2023.
