In addition to providing financial, military, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, European countries incur significant costs in supporting Ukrainian refugees. The amount of spending varies widely, with Germany and Poland spending 4 times more than other countries: €23.68 billion and €22.16 billion respectively. This is attributed to the large number of registered refugees in those countries. Czech Republic, Spain, and France also incurred significant expenses, at €5.75, €5.33, and €3.25 billion, respectively.
The influx of refugees has also impacted the social sphere. There has been an increase in the burden on health and education systems. A shortage of personnel and increased workload have led to longer waiting times for medical professionals and reduced the quality of education. Additionally, the presence of refugees puts pressure on the housing market, already facing a shortage of affordable rental properties.
In many countries experiencing labour shortages in various sectors, there were initial expectations that employing refugees could help address the issue. However, two years later, refugee employment levels remain low. In May 2023, Olaf Scholz called on Ukrainians to seek employment, as Germany continues to face a shortage of workers: “We hope that those coming from Ukraine will start working as soon as possible. It’s worth noting that many are already working, but there are still several hundred thousand people who are urgently needed on the labour market.”
Additionally, EU plans for integrating refugees conflict with the Ukrainian government’s desire to eventually return its citizens.