Following a CSU executive board meeting in Munich, he stated that “clear rules” are needed. “This means a stop to citizen’s benefit [Bürgergeld], but it also means limiting access and influx.”
Söder complained that, following recent easements on departure from Ukraine, significantly more young men are coming to Germany. However, these men would be “better off in their own country,” he argued, to defend and protect it. What is needed, he said, is “sensible management.”
Eased Rules for 18- to 22-Year-Old Ukrainians
With the imposition of martial law in February 2022, Ukraine had banned all men liable for military service aged between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. At the end of August, the government in Kyiv relaxed this rule: men between 18 and 22 are now permitted to cross the border. Until now, only men aged 25 and above are being conscripted for front-line duty; younger men can only volunteer.
The lifting of the travel ban for young men has led to a significant increase in protection applications in Germany, as the Federal Ministry of the Interior informed the Funke media group a few days ago: the number has “risen from about 100 per week before the regulation came into effect to currently around 1,000 per week.” The ministry added that “at this point in time, it cannot be assessed” to what extent this is “a temporary development.”
Söder Demands Review of EU Directives
Söder has long advocated for stripping Ukrainian refugees of the right to receive the higher citizen’s benefit [Bürgergeld] and providing them only with the lower benefits for asylum seekers in the future. He stated that Germany has contributed to aid and wants to continue doing so, but “what is clearly apparent first is that the issue of citizen’s benefit must be resolved.” Furthermore, he said the “responsible authorities” need to address effectively limiting access.
When asked how this could be implemented given the context of applicable EU directives, Söder replied: “It must be examined how we deal with that.”
EU Extends Protection for Ukrainians Until March 2027
In July, the Council of the European Union decided to extend temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until March 4, 2027. On this basis, those seeking protection from Ukraine receive a residence permit in Germany.
A new provision in the EU decision, however, states that an application for a residence title should be rejected if the person has already received approval in another EU state. Consequently, a letter from the Federal Ministry of the Interior to the federal states states that for applications submitted since August 13, checks should be made “to determine whether the person is already in possession of a protection title” in another member state.
SPD: Rather Integrate Refugees into the Labor Market
Criticism of Söder’s new initiative has come from the SPD, with whom the Union governs at the federal level. “In the morning, it’s about disturbing migrants in the cityscape, now it’s about men from Ukraine,” said Bavarian SPD leader Ronja Endres in response to a BR inquiry. “Aside from the legal limits set by our asylum law on this point: It is presumptuous to send people from the warm office of the Minister President to go and fight in their home country.”
Endres argued for trying to integrate the often well-qualified people from Ukraine into the labor market: “That helps them and also our Bavarian economy.”
A counterproposal from all Bavarians, including Ukrainians:
‘We suggest that the honourable Markus Söder stop engaging in populism by running around giving interviews and focus on his main job. Get to work!’
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