GERMANY

MIGRATION AND REFUGEES

POPULATION DATA

Population.......................................................................84,316,622 (2022 est.)

Population growth rate .........................................................-0.11% (2022 est.)
Birth rate.............................................9.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate........................................11.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate........................1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups*....................German 86.3%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%,
Romanian 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.9% (2020 est.)

POLICIES ABOUT MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

By establishing a commissioner for integration in 1978, the federal government

acknowledged that an increasing number of temporary guest workers had permanently
settled in Germany.
This laid the foundation at the start of the new millennium for the government’s first large-
scale reform of the immigration system in 2005 and the establishment of a systematic
integration policy.
To foster the inclusion of migrants, German governments have so far set up 2 integration
plans.
The National Integration Plan of 2007 focused on education, training, employment, and
cultural integration, while the National Action Plan on Integration of 2012 created
instruments to render the results of the integration policy measurable. It included general
objectives, timeframes, as well as indicators to verify the attainment of the set goals:

 Optimising individual support provided to young migrants

 Improving the recognition of foreign degrees
 Increasing the share of migrants in the civil service of federal and state
governments
 Providing health care and care to migrants.

REFUGEES DATA
In the middle of 2021, Germany reported almost 1.24 million refugees and 233 000 asylum
seekers, making it the biggest host country for refugees in Europe. Half of the refugees are
from Syria. Germany also hosts 27 000 stateless persons.
At the same time, Germany supports the worldwide work of UNHCR: for years, the country
has been the second biggest bilateral donor after the US. UNHCR in Germany is based in
Berlin with a sub-office in Nuremberg. The latter, among other things, coordinates the work
with the German Federal Authority for Migrants and Refugees (BAMF). The Berlin office is
a liaison office with the German parliaments and governments – on the federal level and
with the 16 states in Germany.

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITCAL EFFECTS

A variety of hardships led up to this period, including civil wars, political persecution, an
increasing need to relocate to find work and education access, fleeing impoverishment,
political unrest, gang violence, and natural disasters.
These events resulted in many citizens needing to flee from their homes. This migration
influenced many economic effects and some misconceptions; however, migration has
been economically very beneficial for the European Union. 

LEGISLATION

Besides, to improve the economy of the country and migrants and refugees life, the
following programs have been implemented in terms of legislation.

Law on foreigners
The German Immigration Act, enacted in 2005, contains provisions on the entry and
residence of foreign nationals on the federal territory, as well as on the asylum procedure.
It was reformed in 2007 to, among other changes, translate 11 EU directives, combat fake
and forced marriages, and facilitate the residence of entrepreneurs.

Most recently, the Immigration Act for Skilled Workers came into force on 1 March 2020,
and is meant to boost the immigration of qualified individuals from abroad. Now it's easier
for skilled workers with vocational, non-academic training from non-EU countries to
migrate to Germany in order to work.

Asylum law
A dedicated Asylum Act was adopted in 2015 to regulate the legal status of refugees and
asylum seekers. It amends and replaces the previous Asylum Procedure Act.

Integration law
The Integration Act of 2016 is Germany’s first integration legislation at the federal level. It
aims at facilitating the integration of refugees and is therefore accompanied by the
Ordinance on the Integration Course which details the implementation of the integration
system based on a “support and demand” (Fördern und Fordern) approach.
In addition, the Recognition Act which regulates the fast recognition of qualifications and
skills of Third Country Nationals entered into force on 1 April 2012.

Citizenship law
The Nationality Act of 2000 regulates the acquisition of German citizenship and introduces
the so-called Optionspflicht for children born in Germany to foreign nationals. This means
that they can acquire German citizenship at birth (in addition to the foreign citizenship of
their parents), if at least 1 of their parents has lived legally in Germany for at least 8 years
and had permanent residence at the time of the child's birth. However, these naturalised
citizens will have to choose between the German and the foreign citizenship their 21st
birthday. The amendment of 20 December 2014 waves this obligation for EU and Swiss
citizens.

Anti-discrimination law
The General Act on Equal Treatment of 2006 regulates the fight against discrimination in
employment and civil law. It incorporates 4 anti-discrimination EU directives into German
law.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The UN Refugee Agency (2021-2022). Germany. https://www.unhcr.org/germany.html
European Commission, European Website on Integration.(w.d).
https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/country-governance/governance-migrant-
integration-germany_en#legislation
E. Ajluni (2022), “Germany’s Migration Crisis” https://crisesobservatory.es/Germany’s
Migration Crisis /
https://crisesobservatory.es/germanys-migration-crisis/
 POSITION STATEMENT ABOUT MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN GERMANY

Despite the social and economic problems regarding migrants and refugees, Germany is
taking actions to obtain more benefits than harm.
Here is a description and examples.
While there are always some costs, and the integration of migrants during this time had
some hiccups, the integration of migrants has left a positive impact on Germany’s
economy.
Some of these benefits include an increase in the country’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and a successful addition to Germany’s labor force and supplement
to its declining labor force.
The German Institute for Economic Research discovered that the immigration to the EU
increased Germany’s GDP by over 1% every year. Following the crisis, Germany
experienced an economic boom and an inflow of labor. Another strong effect on the
economy was an increase to the consumer pool and the demand for products.
Germany is facing a decline in its population, and therefore its workforce. It needs
immigrants. As a matter of comparison, in Germany, Europe and around the world,
women are becoming more educated, and there has been an increase in sex
education as well as contraceptive use. In addition to this, it has become more common
for women to choose to focus on work over having children or before having children.
In Germany, in 1970, women had 2.37 children, while in 1995 they had 1.25 only. An
increase in life expectancy along with this decrease in population is resulting in a
workforce that is too small to support its retired population. Economists predict that the
workforce in Germany will decline by 40% by 2060 if they don’t receive a high number of
immigrants – approximately 400,000 a year. In 1970, women had about 6.73 children and
in 1995, women had about 3.87.
Adding to the workforce can be a bit of a gamble and depends highly on the host country’s
ability to successfully integrate migrant populations into society and workforce. There can
be many conflicts and uncertainty to integration such as language barriers and
unrecognized qualifications and certifications. In Germany, by 2017, only about 12% of
refugees had found unemployment; the integration process can take time and consume
resources. However, when done efficiently and effectively, it can be extremely beneficial to
a country’s economy. As of October 2020, about 50% of refugees in Germany were
employed. Germany is now facing lower interest rates, declining unemployment,
and stronger foreign demand. It took time and effort, but Germany is the example of
a country that is seeing many economic successes due to the successful
integration of refugees into the workforce.
CONCLUSION
Europe’s Migration Crisis has improved Germany’s overall economy and contributed to its
prosperity. The integration of refugees has added positively to the country’s declining
population and labor market. Since the beginning of the crisis, about half of the refugees
that have entered Germany have found work and have improved the country’s declining
unemployment. This same strategy can be applied in many different countries in Europe
and across the world in order to help grow economies as well as and protect those in
need.