According to the Cour des Comptes, France spent over 630 million euros in 2022 to host approximately 115,000 refugees who fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These refugees were
provided with satisfactory conditions under a new "temporary protection" scheme, which allowed them access to rights that were not available to other asylum seekers.
Under this scheme, Ukrainian refugees were granted the ability to work, receive health services, schooling for children, and emergency accommodation. The total cost of this program was 634 million euros, with most of the money being spent on housing and cash payouts.
The report revealed that the cost of housing Ukrainian refugees was approximately 38 euros per day per person, while pre-existing asylum facilities cost less than 18 euros per person per day. In addition, the auditor found that Paris spent twice as much per person on Ukrainian refugees as it did on "classic asylum seekers."
The auditors have recommended that the French government continue to provide support for ordinary people who are hosting refugees in their homes. Currently, the government is spending almost 800,000 euros per month to support 900 households who have volunteered as hosts, according to the housing ministry. However, the auditors have warned that there is no guarantee that these state payouts will continue into the future.
Overall, the report shows that France has been providing satisfactory conditions for Ukrainian refugees under the temporary protection scheme. While the program was comparatively generous, the government must ensure that support is continued for those who are hosting refugees in their homes. Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.