Germany is currently engaged in an intensifying discussion regarding its support for Ukrainian refugees, reflecting a flexible approach to assisting those displaced by the ongoing conflict. A significant shift occurred on June 1, 2025, when Ukrainian refugees in Germany began receiving support through the "Bürgergeld" basic income system, a change formalized by an agreement between federal and state authorities on April 7, 2025. This system is designed to provide a baseline income, ensuring a minimum standard of living.
However, a recent proposal by Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder on August 3, 2025, has introduced a new element to this debate. Söder suggested that Ukrainian refugees arriving after April 1, 2025, should receive reduced benefits, aligning them with the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act. This proposal has ignited considerable discussion, with some highlighting that Germany's current level of support, comparable to Bürgergeld, is unique among European nations. Thorsten Frei, a key aide to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has expressed support for Söder's proposal, noting that only about one in three employable Ukrainian refugees are currently employed, a figure lower than in neighboring countries. Frei emphasized that Germany's approach of providing benefits akin to Bürgergeld is not replicated elsewhere in Europe.
This debate unfolds against the backdrop of the European Commission's June 2025 proposal to extend the Temporary Protection Directive for displaced Ukrainians until March 2027, aiming to provide continued legal certainty across the EU. Germany has been a major host nation, with approximately 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees residing within its borders, according to UNHCR data. In the previous year, total expenditure on Bürgergeld payments reached €46.9 billion, with €6.3 billion specifically allocated to Ukrainian refugees. Söder's proposed changes could lead to a reduction of approximately €100 per month for affected refugees. While the coalition agreement established April 1, 2025, as a cutoff date for receiving Bürgergeld, with subsequent arrivals to be placed under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, the policy's full implementation is still pending. The German government's draft law, awaiting further parliamentary approval, aims to formalize these adjustments, reflecting a complex balance between humanitarian commitment and fiscal responsibility in managing refugee integration.