A documentary by the German public broadcaster MDR about Romanian families in Germany reignites the debate over allowances and social benefits paid in the EU

A documentary produced by the German public broadcaster MDR follows the lives of Romanian families settled in Germany and the effects of migration on localities in Romania. The film “Poverty Migration in the EU: The Welfare State at an Impasse?”, made by journalist Jana Gareis, is available online and will be broadcast on television on November 4, 2026.

The report presents situations in Magdeburg, Halle, and Hagen, as well as in places such as Bărbulești, in Ialomița County, and Cojasca. The deputy mayor of Bărbulești states that German benefits are “like a treasure” for some large families, while the mayor of Cojasca believes that they encourage residents to leave.

The documentary compares the income and benefits of a family with seven children in Germany and Romania. In the simulation presented, the household in Germany could receive approximately 4,500 euros net per month, compared with around 1,500 euros in Romania, depending on eligibility and family composition.

The film also addresses access to medical treatment, housing conditions, possible fraud, and tensions in German neighborhoods. The cited data indicate an increase in social spending for Romanian citizens in Magdeburg, from more than 140,000 euros in 2013 to over three million euros in 2025.

The documentary prompted a reaction from politician Sahra Wagenknecht, who called for child benefits to be stopped for children living outside Germany. However, European rules allow, under certain conditions, benefits to be paid for children living in another member state. On September 23, 2026, the German government approved a ten-point plan against benefit fraud and fictitious employment.

AfD leader Alice Weidel criticized, in a post on X, the provision of child benefits, subsistence benefits, and medical care to migrants from Romania. According to her statements, spending in Magdeburg increased twentyfold, reaching three million euros annually. Weidel used these figures to promote the AfD’s migration policy.