Finland is poised to sharply reduce financial assistance for Ukrainian refugees, as part of a sweeping budget proposal that would eliminate state compensation to municipalities tasked with integrating asylum seekers. The move, championed by Finance Minister Riikka Purra, reflects a broader European trend in which governments that initially opened their doors to millions fleeing Russia’s 2022 invasion are now scaling back benefits amid mounting fiscal pressures and public skepticism.

According to Finland’s public broadcaster Yle, Purra’s proposal for the 2026 budget would end the “integration compensation” scheme-a system that reimburses local governments and welfare areas for expenses tied to refugee integration. This includes Finnish language classes, job placement support, and orientation courses designed to familiarize newcomers with local laws, culture, and societal norms.

The finance ministry projects that axing the program would save €317 million ($344 million) over two years. The plan will be formally debated during the government’s autumn budget negotiations before being submitted to parliament.

Under the proposed changes, municipalities would retain legal responsibility for integrating refugees but would be left to shoulder the costs themselves. For many towns and cities, this could mean either finding new sources of revenue, cutting other services, or scaling back integration efforts altogether.

Sonja Hamalainen, Director of Immigration at Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy, acknowledged to Yle that the cuts would disproportionately impact Ukrainians. “Around two-thirds of this year’s integration spending, and an estimated three-quarters of next year’s, will go to services for Ukrainians,” she said. The latest figures show nearly 46,000 Ukrainians currently reside in Finland under temporary protection.

Finland’s planned cuts are not an isolated case. Across Europe, countries that once championed open-door policies for........

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