In Germany, the federal and state governments tentatively agreed on a new distribution of the burden of refugee costs at a high-level meeting in the Chancellery. The announcement was made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz late last night, after the meeting with the prime ministers of the German federal states on Wednesday night in Berlin. According to her, the federal government will pay another billion euros for states and municipalities by 2023 because of the increase in the number of refugees.
A key decision on permanently higher federal funds to fund the accommodation and care of those seeking protection has been postponed. “Our country faces a great challenge,” Scholz said at the final press conference in the Chancellery.
In November, a regular conference of prime ministers will discuss how the system can be developed in the longer term, Scholz added. A working group should come up with new proposals by then.