German states demand billions of euros to cover refugee costs

German states have demanded additional funds from the federal government to cover the cost of refugee integration. The request comes ahead of a meeting at the Chancellery.
Germany's 16 states are demanding an additional 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) over the next three years from the federal government in Berlin to cover the cost burden of integrating refugees, the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported on Wednesday.

Horst Seehofer, the premier of the state of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), told the Munich-based newspaper that all 16 states were united on the 8 billion euro figure ahead of a government summit to discuss the issue at the Chancellery on Thursday.

The additional sum would be distributed in three lump sum payments of 1.5 billion euros this year, 2.5 billion euros next year and 4 billion euros in 2018.

The states have long complained the federal government is not sufficiently sharing costs associated with meeting the needs of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers that have put pressure on local services.

The CDU and CSU have been at loggerheads for months over refugee issues, which have threatened unity within conservative ranks.

The states are calling for more funds to pay for German language courses, education, nursery centers and social welfare. The federal government, meanwhile, has committed to covering the full cost of accommodation and support of unaccompanied youth to the tune of 1 billion euros.
 - Read More at the Deutsche Welle‎

German states demand billions of euros to cover refugee costs 

ایالت های آلمان خواهان چندین میلیارد یورو برای تامین هزینه های پناهجویان ...