In Germany, over 700,000 Ukrainian citizens who found temporary refuge received social assistance through Bürgergeld in 2024. The total amount of payments for Ukrainians last year reached approximately €6.3 billion, with the average monthly payment per person being €711. A total of €46.9 billion was allocated for Bürgergeld assistance in 2024, which is €4.3 billion more than the previous year. Social support was provided to 5.5 million people, of which 2.6 million were foreigners who received a total of €22.2 billion.
This is reported by Business • Media
Funding Cuts and Initiatives for Change
The German government’s budget proposal for 2026 includes a significant reduction in expenditures for the Bürgergeld program – down to €28.1 billion. In addition, the Prime Minister of Bavaria and head of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, insists on completely abolishing these payments for all Ukrainian refugees, regardless of their arrival date in the country.
“So few Ukrainians are employed because no other country provides this level of social support,” said Markus Söder.
Such initiatives are explained by the rising costs in the social sector and the need to encourage the integration and employment of Ukrainians into German society.
Changes in Attitudes Towards Refugees in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic may also reconsider its policy regarding Ukrainian refugees due to noticeable societal fatigue. According to recent studies, 58% of Czechs believe that the country has accepted too many refugees, and 40% stated that they tolerate the presence of Ukrainians but feel fatigued by it. Additionally, 60% of respondents mistakenly believe that Ukrainians receive more funds from the Czech government than they contribute to the country’s economy.
Currently, approximately 373,700 Ukrainian citizens have temporary protection in the Czech Republic. This is the third-largest figure in the European Union after Germany and Poland. However, in terms of the number of refugees per thousand residents, the Czech Republic ranks first in the EU – with 34.3 Ukrainian refugees per 1,000 people, while the average across the European Union is 9.5.