Before the federal-states round, North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst called for reliable federal financial aid for the accommodation of refugees.

"When winter comes, when cold and wet get into the destroyed houses in Ukraine, then more people will come to us - have to come," said the CDU politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. "Their decent accommodation and care is one of the major tasks for municipalities and states. It takes money for that." The successor regulation promised by the chancellor for financing refugee costs is now needed. The federal government must "confess itself to the common responsibility for the refugees". With a view to the high energy costs, Wüst explained that the challenges of autumn and winter are great and varied.

Traffic light package of measures includes 200 billion euros

The federal government wants to protect consumers and companies from high energy prices due to the Ukraine war with a package of measures worth up to 200 billion euros. The aid is to be financed through loans. The federal states expect Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his traffic light government to clarify the planned gas price brake and the financing of various relief measures. The consultations should also deal with financing the admission of refugees.

The Social Association Germany (SoVD) called on the federal states not to block the third relief package. "We need solidarity between the strong and the weak and a joint effort by the federal and state governments," said Michaela Engelmeier, chairwoman of the Funke media group. Four weeks have passed since the agreement on the package. "The federal and state governments must not settle their dispute on the backs of those affected." She called for speed: "The high cost of groceries is incurred every week."