For a long time there was a dispute in the traffic light coalition about financing, but now, according to Family Minister Lisa Paus, there is agreement: basic child security should come – with performance improvements.
In the month-long dispute over the introduction of basic child security, the governing coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP has agreed on how to proceed, according to Family Minister Lisa Paus. “Now we have clarity, now there is an agreement,” said the Green politician last night on the ARD “Tagesthemen”.
“Basic child security is coming. At the end of the summer, a law will be passed in the cabinet. And there will actually be improvements in performance,” said Paus. She has Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at her side. It is now only about “small things that need to be clarified with each other”.
Green party leader Ricarda Lang thanked her party colleague “for her determination in the talks.” “The basic child security is coming, the knot is loosening,” said Lang of the German Press Agency. “Now we can start a new start in family support – including increased support for children at risk of poverty,” added the co-chair.
No specific numbers yet
Paus did not want to comment specifically on the estimated costs in the ARD “Tagesthemen”. The two billion euros set by Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in the financial plan for 2025 are just a “placeholder”. In the end it will probably be a sum between these two and the twelve billion euros she estimates.
Regarding the agreement, Paus said: “This is the clarity we need so that we can effectively combat child poverty in Germany.” It is unacceptable that every fifth child in Germany grows up in poverty. “We have to put an end to that.”
The basic child security is intended to bring together services such as child benefit, child citizenship benefit, child allowance and those from the so-called education and participation package. The application process should be clearer and easier. The traffic light coalition had long argued about the financing – especially between the Greens and the FDP.
Fewer forms and digital applications
Yesterday Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wrote to Paus that a draft agreed within the federal government should be available by the end of August. The Ministry of Family Affairs should now quickly develop or supplement the new draft law along the key points available.
“How high the costs of the reform will be will now be clarified in the course of the legislative process,” Lang told the German Press Agency. But the target is clear. It is about “finally making progress in combating child poverty”. In the future, the state will also work to ensure that children affected by poverty and their families are informed about their financial entitlements and better supported – with fewer forms, a central office and a digital application.
Source: Stern
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