German Chancellor Scholz: €1.5 billion will be mobilized this year so that the federal states can support refugees from Ukraine and other countries
More than a million Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Germany and the government will mobilise €1.5 billion this year and €2.75 billion next year to support them and citizens of other countries seeking asylum in Germany, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
“Many people are seeking asylum in our country. More than one million Ukrainian citizens have registered in our country and received short- or long-term assistance here,” Scholz told reporters after a meeting of the German government and the leadership of the federal states on Wednesday. The press conference was broadcast live by Germany’s second German channel ZDF.
“It is impressive that we have been able to organise this with such great support from various members of the population, and that there is still solidarity and help in Germany for a long time. At the same time, of course, cities and municipalities, communities and villages in Germany are facing challenges that the federation and the federal states have to deal with,” said the Chancellor.
In this regard, according to the Chancellor, €1.5 billion will be mobilised this year in order to enable the federal states to support refugees from Ukraine and from other countries. In order to financially support the states and municipalities, the federal government will also provide the federal states with €1.5 billion for their refugee costs from Ukraine in 2023.
In addition, the federal government will support the states with a total lump sum of €1.25 billion annually from 2023 to cover the costs of refugees arriving in Germany from other countries, Scholz specified.
So, in total, the German government will support the states and municipalities in the area of refugees and migration with €1.5 billion this year and €2.75 billion in 2023.