Germany embraced openness with compassion
In October 2025, a series of special editions will grace the pages of our newspaper, delving into the transformative changes in migration policies across Germany and Europe. Ten years after Angela Merkel's historic declaration, "we can do this," the landscape has dramatically shifted.
As we approach the anniversary of Merkel's speech, it's important to reflect on the journey that followed. Germany, once a beacon of welcome, is now spearheading a more restrictive, anti-immigration stance within the EU under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This political and policy reversal is a notable departure from Merkel's era.
The effects of this shift are evident. Germany now leads the EU's hard-right migration policy efforts, pushing for tougher asylum rules, accelerated deportations, and reduced numbers of asylum seekers entering Europe. The drop in asylum applications has been significant, with Germany no longer the top EU asylum destination—Spain leads now, followed closely by Italy and France.
However, the political environment remains dominated by far-right anti-immigration parties that gained electoral ground in 2024-2025. Critics warn that these hardline policies risk human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and unsafe repatriations.
The social and economic impact in Germany is also noteworthy. Public concern about migration has risen, contributing to the success of far-right parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which became the second-strongest party in the 2025 parliamentary elections. Migrants' integration challenges remain significant, particularly around language acquisition and perceptions of unwelcomeness, which affects retention of even highly educated migrants who are more likely to emigrate.
Despite these challenges, the EU remains divided over asylum and migration policy. Internal rifts persist over how strictly to apply rules and treat asylum seekers.
Our special editions will address these issues and more, including the need for climate protection to protect refugees, the possibility of pushing back the right, and the creation of a human rights-oriented migration policy. The series will also feature a column written by journalists with a refugee background, providing unique insights into the experiences of refugees in German society.
The podcast and the column are made possible by financial support from the Panter Foundation. In addition, the series will include video diaries from the Mediterranean when on the "SeaWatch 5" rescue ship, and social media focus is integrated, with editors sharing research trip experiences. A new episode of the podcast will be published with each newspaper special edition.
The migration wave of 2025 continues to shape Germany and Europe today. The big questions of 2015, such as the arrival and integration of war refugees, the sealing off of Europe in the Mediterranean, the rise of the AfD, and right-wing terror, are still relevant in 2025.
Our website will dedicate monthly special editions to the "Summer of Migration" and its consequences, focusing not on historical retrospect but on engaging with the present and future. The focus of the newspaper special editions is on constructively looking to the future and daring to dream about solutions to migration issues.
As we navigate these complex issues, it's crucial to remember that migration remains a symbol for the unresolved problems of a progressive society, an open country whose supposed consensus on values is wavering. But it's also a testament to the resilience and determination of those seeking a better life.
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- The shift in migration policies in Germany, as a result of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration, has led to a heightened interest in education-and-self-development and crime-and-justice issues among migrants, as they contend with the growing challenges in integrating into a more restrictive society.
- Shockwaves from the political change in migration policies have reverberated across Europe, with politics becoming increasingly polarized around the topic, making general-news reports on migration a central focus of political debate and public discourse.
- The transformation in migration policies has sparked a new wave of migration, as those seeking better opportunities overseas now reconsider their choices, with experts now monitoring the impacts on the overall education level and skills distribution of both the migrant and host communities.