The key points at a glance

The Federal and Länder Governments have agreed that

– registered refugees from Ukraine in need of assistance will receive basic income benefits (Social Security Code II/XII) from 1 June

– the Federal Government will provide total funding for the Länder and municipalities of two billion euros in 2022 to cover expenses for such things as accommodation and schooling

– all incoming refugees will be registered quickly and distributed fairly among the federal states

This agreement reflects a sense of solidarity between the Federal and Länder Governments and the municipalities, stressed Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the talks with the Heads of Government of the Länder on the further course of action with regard to the war refugees from Ukraine. There are now more than 300,000 in Germany – most of them women and children. 

Refugees to receive benefits under the basic security scheme

The Federal and Länder Governments have decided that refugees will receive basic income benefits as of 1 June this year. This will put them on an equal footing with recognised refugees – “a logical solution,” said Scholz. As a result, they will enjoy secure access to healthcare and get help with integration in the labour market. The Federal Government will also contribute significantly to the costs of housing, the Federal Chancellor explained. 

See here for the decision paper issued after the Federation-Länder consultations.

Federal Government to support Länder and municipalities

In addition, the Federal Government will provide the Länder with a lump sum of two billion euros, thereby contributing to additional expenses for such things as accommodation as well as childcare and schooling. 

The sum of two billion euros is broken down as follows:

• 500 million euros to help the municipalities with the cost of accommodation.
• The Federal Government will contribute another 500 million euros to covering the costs already incurred by the Länder this year.

The Federal Government will contribute a sum of one billion euros to covering further costs incurred for integration in daycare centres and schools as well as for healthcare and nursing care costs.

The Federal and Länder Governments had found a precise, far-reaching, good and viable solution, said Scholz. “The agreement provides a good basis for our country to stand together in the long term.”

In November 2022, further measures will agreed on for 2023, taking into account the developments of 2022 and, in particular, the number of refugees who have arrived from Ukraine by then.

Thanks for “overwhelming culture of support and solidarity”

The Federal Chancellor and the Heads of Government of the Länder expressed their heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers and full-time helpers for their tireless efforts. “Civil society is showing an overwhelming culture of support and solidarity, not least when it comes to offering accommodation,” the Federal and Länder Governments said in their statement. It was also noted that there were still large numbers of staff who were working tirelessly on site, including members of the relief organisations and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the federal and state police forces, Deutsche Bahn and the rescue services.

Watch the video of the press conference with Federal Chancellor Scholz, State Premier Wüst and Mayor Giffey here.

Other decisions

The Federal Government and the Länder also adopted resolutions on the following issues: 

• The Federal and Länder Governments will work “hand in hand” to enforce the far-reaching sanctions imposed on Russia. The Federal Government has set up a “Sanctions Task Force” involving the Länder. 
• The Federal and Länder Governments will accelerate and optimise the registration of incoming refugees.
• The latter are to be distributed quickly and fairly among the individual federal states.
• The aim is to integrate the refugees into the labour market as swiftly as possible. Academics are to be able to continue to pursue their research activities quickly and unbureaucratically.
• Ukrainian children and young people are also to be admitted to schools and universities quickly in the future. Swift access to daycare will continue to be provided for children, too.
• Provision of vaccinations for incoming refugees is to be quick and straightforward.
• Germany is to become independent of Russian energy imports as quickly as possible.
• A strong domestic agriculture and food industry has become more strategically crucial than ever. Ukraine and Russia have been important suppliers of grain, feed and fertiliser up to now. 
• Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the sanctions are impacting companies in Germany, too. The Federal Government will provide assistance to businesses affected so as to help them cope with the challenges.