The EU is reviewing the conditions for supporting Ukrainian refugees: where assistance may be canceled

Despite the extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians in the European Union until March 2027, more and more states are starting to reduce social programs for refugees.

In particular, in Germany, a decision was made to reduce social benefits for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025. According to the new changes, they will be transferred from the Bürgergeld system to less favorable payments. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that the government plans to reduce social support for Ukrainian refugees arriving after the specified date, and that the corresponding bill should be adopted this week.

“We have reached an agreement on changes in the legal sphere. This issue has been agreed upon between the ministries of labor and the interior. This week, the project will be presented at a meeting of the federal government, and the innovations will come into force on April 1, 2025,” he said.

According to the new bill, Ukrainians who arrive in Germany after this date will not receive Bürgergeld of 563 euros per month. Instead, the payments will be only 441 euros per month, in accordance with the asylum law. Of this amount, 196 euros are allocated to personal expenses and 245 euros to food and clothing.

In addition, social benefits will be provided only to refugees who do not have significant assets and must first use their own resources. An obligation to actively seek work is also introduced; failure to fulfill it may result in reduced benefits.

It should be noted that for those already in Germany, current support programs remain relevant, and young Ukrainians can enter the country without additional restrictions.

Minister Dobrindt also confirmed the strengthening of border controls and the reduction of the number of initial asylum applications, while promising to stop abuses and preserve the individual right to asylum. Germany plans to set up centers in cooperation with EU partners to deport people who have been refused asylum, probably to third countries, in particular to Africa.

The publication emphasizes that the reduction in social benefits will not lead to significant savings for the German budget. The expected savings of 730 million euros in 2026 will be fully offset by additional costs at the federal-state and municipal levels, totaling 862 million euros in the same year, so no real benefit to the state is expected.