The large influx has made it difficult to integrate them into society, the authorities in Pirmasens have claimed
The southern German town of Pirmasens has stopped accepting Ukrainian migrants after significantly exceeding its admission quota, the media outlet Tagesschau reported on Friday, citing local authorities.
Ukrainian migrants in Germany can freely choose where they want to live within the country. However, to prevent municipalities from being overwhelmed, a quota system is in place to regulate the distribution of Ukrainians among the German states. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the state where Pirmasens is located, any town or city that surpasses its acceptance quota by 40% is officially permitted to reject new arrivals.
The local quota was exceeded by 82.6% in July, leading to a “dangerous overburdening” of the town, according to a statement from the Pirmasens administration. The administration added that the continuous influx of migrants has made it challenging to “sustainably” integrate all the newcomers. The suspension of accepting new refugees will remain in effect until further notice, while those turned away will be directed to the nearest initial reception center for distribution within the state.
The decision includes certain exceptions. For instance, the town will continue to accept Ukrainians who meet the criteria of “having a positive effect on integration,” such as those already possessing housing, employment, or income sufficient to cover their living expenses.
Pirmasens, located near the German-French border, has a population of approximately 41,000. According to local authorities, the city has accepted nearly 900 Ukrainians since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Rhineland-Palatinate has been facing challenges in accommodating Ukrainian refugees. Last month, five out of the state’s seven collective municipalities issued warnings because their capacities to accommodate new migrants were exhausted.
Germany has been a major destination for Ukrainians within the EU due to the generous benefits it offers. Apart from the temporary protection status introduced by the European Council, which grants migrants from Ukraine the right to an extended visa-free stay, accommodation, medical care, employment, and education, Ukrainians in Germany are entitled to a ‘citizen’s benefit’ of €563 ($610) per month – a level of support considerably higher than in other EU states.
As of March of this year, official statistics indicate that approximately 1.3 million Ukrainian migrants were residing in Germany, representing roughly a quarter of the bloc’s estimated total of 4.3 million. However, media reports indicate that local authorities across the country have been urging the federal government to abolish these benefits in order to curtail the flow of refugees and encourage newcomers to find jobs and integrate more effectively into German society.