Crash shortly before the refugee summit: The 16 federal states have agreed on their own concept for future refugee financing.
The federal states are unanimously in talks with the federal government about the controversial refugee financing. On Monday evening, the heads of the State Chancellery sent the Federal Chancellery a joint basis for consultation, from which several media quoted. In the 11-page draft, they insist that the federal government transfer significantly more money to the states and municipalities.
In particular, it includes the following specific requirements:
- The countries require full reimbursement of accommodation and heating costs for refugees.
- They demand a general monthly per capita flat rate for accommodation and care under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. A lump sum of around 1,000 euros was mentioned in a paper from the finance ministers’ conference on Sunday.
- The prime ministers want a reliable solution for integration costs in the federal-state consultations. The Confederation shall contribute more to the costs for the integration of all refugees and the costs for unaccompanied minors. The 2.75 billion euros promised by the federal government in November 2022 for refugees from Ukraine and refugees from other countries were not enough, they say.
“The Chancellor and the heads of government of the federal states agree that the migration movements of recent years are a lasting development,” the paper says. “A financing model is required that is appropriate in terms of amount and adapts to changing refugee numbers (breathing system)”, emphasize the countries in the paper approved on Monday evening.
hardened positions
On Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz will receive the 16 prime ministers at the refugee summit in the Chancellery. With the proposal of their own resolution paper, the federal states are rejecting consultation on the draft submitted by the Chancellery, which primarily refers to the commitments that have already been made. However, the federal and state governments come up with completely different numbers as to how large the allocations in the various pots actually are.
The federal government speaks of 15.6 billion euros this year. A government spokesman pointed out again on Monday that according to the constitution, responsibility lies with the federal states and local authorities. These had agreed on a common position on Monday morning. The positions have therefore hardened two days before the top meeting.
Also proposals to curb illegal migration
The 16 countries pledge that the asylum procedures for nationals from Moldova and Georgia will be accelerated because these countries have the prospect of joining the EU. The federal government should present a draft law as soon as possible.
The paper also includes proposals for curbing irregular migration, for better cooperation with the countries of origin, for more effective protection of internal borders and for consistent returns. However, these passages are still subject to change. The paper expressly points out that many municipalities are overwhelmed. “The calls for help and notices of overload from the municipalities, volunteers and other local actors, who have done great things under difficult conditions in recent years, must be taken seriously,” it says.
On Monday, Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) and his North Rhine-Westphalian colleague Hendrik Wüst (CDU) called for federal funds to finance refugees to be based on the actual number of people admitted. Funding for refugee aid has been a subject of debate for a long time. In view of the increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers, many municipalities see themselves on the edge of their ability to perform.
