One feels like throwing the new federal government report on migration under the feet of the thousands of citizens who on the evening of January 21 once again took to the streets of Leipzig with calls against the so-called 'Islamization of the West'. So that, stumbling and burying their noses in it, they would read the figures written in black and white. Reading, as we know, is educational.
What is actually good about this 312-page report, prepared by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, is that it meticulously lists many figures but does not evaluate them. The assertion that statistics are a product of Lugenpresse ('lying press') or some other manipulators does not work in this case. Numbers cannot be bribed.
Some figures definitely confirm the clichés actively supported on the streets of German cities and in beer bars. Other data may greatly surprise many zealous supporters of Pegida's ideas. And this despite the fact that it is not about any radically new discoveries. Which country sends the largest number of immigrants to Germany? Turkey? Kosovo? Afghanistan? Such an answer would perfectly match existing prejudices.
But no, not even close: the largest national group of migrants comes to Germany from Poland – and this trend has been ongoing since 1996. Meanwhile, despite the size of the group, no one has ever heard of integration problems among Poles or of 'Polish ghettos' in cities. This fact should rather please German bishops: the vast majority of Poles are faithful Catholics and, accordingly, diligently pay church tax.
In fact, three-quarters of all immigrants come to Germany from other European countries. After Poland, the countries with the largest numbers of migrants are – in descending order – Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Russia and Spain. Countries where Christians definitely form the majority. Moreover, statisticians also count Turkey as part of Europe. By the way, Turkey is one of the countries to which more people emigrate from Germany than the other way around. So the thesis of the 'Islamization of Germany' does not hold up to any criticism.
Another important point: immigration to Germany is growing. In total, in 2013, 430,000 more people immigrated to Germany than left to live in other countries. There are two simple reasons for this: first, the number of asylum seekers has sharply increased, and second, the southern regions of Europe are experiencing a serious economic crisis. Today, few people move to the warm Mediterranean countries. On the contrary – young people from there come to Germany.
But there is no need to worry that Germany will become overpopulated. The population increase due to migration of 430,000 people does not seem that large when you consider that during this period almost 200,000 more people died than were born in the country. In other words, taking into account the age structure of German society, one can confidently assert that Germany urgently needs immigration if it wants to maintain its standard of living. After all, in at most ten years, when the baby boomer generation born in the post-war years begins to retire, Germany will face a serious labor shortage.
Germany needs to start preparing in advance for a scenario in which the southern European countries will have overcome the crisis by then (and migration from there will stop). Humanitarian reasons alone – as in the case of refugees – or family reunification cannot remain the only selection criteria according to which migrants can obtain a residence permit and the right to work in Germany.
Despite the fact that many Germans may find this strange and unusual, one way to preserve the country's economic well-being could be a new migration law that clearly defines which qualifications are urgently lacking in the country. And German politicians should be able to defend such a concept in front of demonstrators on the streets of German cities.
Felix Steiner,
commentator for Deutsche Welle