Scholz calls for more money to take in Ukraine refugees at EU summit
Scholz stated, "I need money for 'living expenses, professional trainings, language courses and all the things that play a role', he continued. And 'if other countries participate less in the intake of refugees', the EU must step in. 'I have also written this to the Commission President together with my colleagues from Poland and the Czech Republic, and we will also discuss it.'
In a joint letter from the three prime ministers, which was obtained by the news agency AFP, Scholz, Donald Tusk, and Petr Fiala emphasize that their countries have taken in more than 50% of all Ukrainian refugees in the EU. "This is not in line with the common goal of fairly distributing the costs of refugee intake and their consequences." An additional and "substantial" financial support is required from the EU budget.
Scholz, as the German Chancellor and SPD leader, advocated for financial assistance for housing, professional development, language courses, and various other expenses related to Ukrainian refugees. He suggested that if EU member states contribute less to refugee intake, the EU should compensate. Scholz, along with Tusk and Fiala, wrote a joint letter to the EU Commission President, urging for increased financial support due to their countries' high refugee intake exceeding 50%. At the EU summit in Brussels, the leaders discussed the need for additional funding to ensure a fair distribution of costs among member states. Olaf Scholz reiterated Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine refugees, acknowledging that many refugees were from Ukraine. The Polish and Czech Prime Ministers agreed, highlighting that their countries had also taken in a significant proportion of the refugees. Scholz emphasized that the EU budget should provide substantial financial support to cover the increasing costs associated with hosting Ukrainian refugees.
