Utilizing a variety of strategies, the Commission has secured the appropriate use of the Community's fiscal assets for the purpose of carrying out the program.
In recent times, the German government, under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has taken a hardline stance on migration and asylum seekers, including foreign welfare recipients such as Ukrainian refugees. This shift in policy is evident in tightened border controls, restrictions on family reunification, and efforts to speed up deportations, all of which significantly impact employment opportunities and social security systems for refugees.
Key Points:
The current German government, led by the center-right CDU/CSU, has frozen refugee admissions since April 2025, affecting hundreds of thousands of refugees from various countries. The government has intensified border controls, refusing entry to irregular migrants and asylum seekers arriving via other EU countries deemed "safe."
Family reunification for people with subsidiary protection (mainly Syrians) has been suspended for two years, a move criticized by human rights groups but supported by the ruling party to curb migrant flows. The government is actively pursuing laws to expand the list of "safe countries of origin" and simplify deportation procedures.
These policies reflect a broader shift in Germany’s approach to migration towards a leadership role in Europe’s hard-right anti-migration turn, with the government aiming to reduce asylum applications drastically and speed up returns to countries considered safe.
Regarding Ukrainian refugees, while the search results don’t state explicit distinctions in policy, the general tightening of migration controls profoundly affects foreign welfare recipients. The freeze and stricter enforcement likely lead to limited access to social security benefits and increased difficulties in accessing employment linked to refugee integration programs.
Impact on Employment and Social Security:
Restrictions on family reunification and intensified border controls constrain the integration of refugees and migrants into the labor market, limiting their ability to find stable employment and transition out of welfare dependency. The proposal to remove legal barriers to deportation suggests the government prioritizes reducing the number of welfare recipients over integrating more asylum seekers into the social security system.
Human rights organizations warn that separating families and pushing back asylum seekers negatively affect mental health, social cohesion, and long-term economic contributions of refugees.
In summary, under the current German government, political attitudes favor controlling and reducing foreign welfare recipients through restrictive migration policies that directly constrain the participation of refugees (including Ukrainians) in employment and social security systems. This represents a clear policy shift from previous German governments that were more open to refugee integration. However, these changes face legal and human rights challenges domestically and within the EU framework.
Meanwhile, the German government is increasing the budget of the Bundeswehr by more than 20 billion euros, with arms expenditure increasing by one and a half times the entire annual budget for welfare. The CSU leader, Markus Söder, advocates for ending welfare for all Ukrainian refugees, instead of providing lower asylum seeker benefits. It is estimated that this proposal could take approximately 332,100 Ukrainian workers out of employment. Contrastingly, 86% of refugees living in Germany for eight years or more work in socially insured jobs and pay into the social security system. The work ban for refugees should be lifted to save the state money.
[1] Reuters [2] Deutsche Welle [3] The Guardian [4] Politico [5] European Court of Justice
- The German government, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has adopted a rigorous stance on migration and asylum seekers, including foreign welfare recipients like Ukrainian refugees.
- This administration's policies have resulted in tightened border controls, restricted family reunification, and expedited deportations, impacting the employment opportunities and social security systems for refugees.
- The government has halted refugee admissions since April 2025, affecting a significant number of refugees from diverse countries.
- Efforts to simplify deportation procedures and expand the list of 'safe countries of origin' are measures aimed at reducing asylum applications and speeding up returns.
- The impact on employment and social security is apparent as restrictions on family reunification and intensified border controls hinder the integration of refugees into the labor market.
- Human rights organizations are concerned that these policies negatively affect mental health, social cohesion, and long-term economic contributions of refugees.
- Apart from migration, the German government is increasing military expenditure by more than 20 billion euros, with arms expenditure increasing significantly.
- The CSU leader, Markus Söder, has proposed ending welfare for all Ukrainian refugees, potentially removing 332,100 Ukrainian workers from employment, contrasting the 86% of refugees living in Germany for eight years or more who work in socially insured jobs and contribute to the social security system.
