The Christian Social Union (CSU), a key German political party, is pushing for a significant policy shift regarding Ukrainian refugees. In a draft resolution for its upcoming winter meeting, the party proposes ending the practice of “home leave” for refugees and calls for the return of military-age Ukrainian men to contribute to their homeland’s defense. This stance is part of a broader, tougher migration policy paper that also targets other groups, including Syrians.
Why It Matters
Germany has been one of the primary hosts for Ukrainians fleeing the war, providing temporary protection to over 1.1 million people. The proposed CSU policies, if adopted, could dramatically alter the legal status and security of hundreds of thousands of refugees. It signals a hardening political attitude in Europe towards the long-term hosting of displaced populations, potentially setting a precedent for other nations. The financial measures also place a new burden on refugees, directly impacting their livelihoods.
What to Know
- End of “Home Leave”: The CSU draft states that refugees should not be allowed to return to their country of origin for visits. If they do, they would automatically lose their protected status in Germany, as the party argues such travel “refutes his own need for protection.”
- Return of Military-Age Men: Alexander Hoffmann, head of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, explicitly proposes that “Ukrainian men suitable for service” be returned to Ukraine to “contribute to the defense of their country.”
- Financial Contributions: The party insists that asylum seekers participate in the costs of their stay. A new rule proposed for April 2025 would allow authorities to tap into the possible assets of newly arrived Ukrainians to cover these costs.
- Scale of Protection: According to the European Commission, approximately 4.3 million people were recipients of temporary protection in the EU in 2025, with Poland and Germany hosting the largest numbers.
What People Are Saying
The draft resolution frames the “home leave” policy as a matter of logical consistency, stating that a refugee’s voluntary return to their homeland contradicts their claimed need for asylum. The call for the return of military-age men is positioned as a matter of shared burden and defense responsibility. The CSU’s broader policy paper has been described as “very tough,” extending similar return demands to other groups like Syrians whose “protection basis” is deemed to have lapsed.
What Happens Next
The proposals will be debated at the CSU’s winter meeting at the Seeon Monastery in Bavaria. As part of the ruling coalition in Bavaria and an influential force in federal politics, the CSU’s stance could pressure the national government to adopt stricter measures. The potential implementation of asset checks for Ukrainian refugees in 2025 would require legislative changes. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities, like Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, have clarified that refugees must still file tax returns in Ukraine, though they are exempt from paying taxes on foreign aid, adding another layer of complexity to their status.
