The North Rhine‑Westphalia CDU plans to curb the abuse of social benefits by criminal gangs. In a proposal for the federal party conference in Stuttgart in February, the “Bild am Sonntag” reported, the state association is calling for harsh measures against the exploitation of EU free movement.
The proposal also calls for a reform of child‑benefit payments abroad. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann said to the “Bild am Sonntag”: “Child‑benefit fraud has unfortunately become a racket for criminal gangs”. He added that it is only logical to adjust the child benefit to living costs when the money is transferred to EU countries such as Romania or Bulgaria. “The current payments are, because of lower living costs, completely disproportionate” Linnemann explained.
Furthermore, the Union wants to tackle the exploitation of so‑called “junk” properties. The proposal would allow police and fire services to report uninhabitable properties directly to job centres so that payments can be stopped, “so that criminal networks no longer benefit from forced forwarding of social benefits”. To aid investigations, the CDU asks for a fraud‑central registry linking reporting registers, family funds, and social offices.
Those caught committing fraud should face tougher consequences. The Union demands “easier expulsion of EU nationals, including the possibility of a re‑entry ban”. NRW General Secretary Paul Ziemiak told the “Bild am Sonntag”: “Fraud against social benefits undermines confidence in our democracy and in state capacity. It must be met with the full force of the rule of law”.
