Germany targets welfare fraud by poorer EU citizens

Germany has announced new measures to combat welfare fraud involving citizens from poorer EU countries like Bulgaria and Romania. The issue of welfare fraud is particularly sensitive in Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, which will hold a new state assembly election in April. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is anticipated to perform better in the polls, though Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union remains ahead.

According to Leonie Gebers, a state secretary in the German labour ministry, "Abuse of free movement of people within the EU is not acceptable." Gebers cited schemes where individuals from poorer EU countries are brought to Germany with inadequate living conditions and fake employment contracts to claim welfare payments. She added that such schemes often benefit the criminals behind them by diverting the benefits into their pockets.

The labour and interior ministries have outlined an action plan to address the issue, which includes improved information sharing between the various government agencies involved. Employers who provide fraudulent job contracts will now be held responsible for repaying the fraudulently obtained welfare payments. The German government will also intensify efforts to warn potential victims in their home countries about such schemes.