DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics How Assad’s fall is shaking up Germany’s migration debate
Dec 20, 2024
Michaela Küfner, a DW correspondent with deep insights into German politics, teams up with migration expert Raphael Bossong from the SWP think tank. They discuss the shift in Germany's migration debate following the fall of Assad's regime, highlighting integration challenges for Syrian and Ukrainian migrants. The conversation touches on the vital role of Syrian doctors in alleviating Germany's healthcare crisis, and examines the evolving migration policies under a more conservative political climate, raising crucial questions about citizenship and asylum rights.
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Merkel's "Wir schaffen das" moment
- Angela Merkel's "Wir schaffen das" ("We can do this") moment in 2015 marked Germany's open-door policy for Syrian refugees.
- Nina Haase reflects on the subsequent influx of approximately 1 million Syrians and the ensuing societal and political changes.
A Decade of Integration
- Raphael Bossong discusses the complexities of integrating Syrian refugees into German society after a decade.
- He notes that while challenges remain, Germany's system has not collapsed, and long-term integration is a multi-generational process.
Labor Market Participation and Return
- Only 42% of Syrians are currently part of the German labor market, which is below average.
- Many Syrians have become German citizens, and a significant number of highly skilled Syrians are being encouraged to return to rebuild Syria.