In absolute numbers, the influx of illegal immigrants was as follows: in 2011, border guards registered 21,156 people entering Germany without permission, in 2010 – 17,831, in 2009 – 19,416. 3,378 foreigners – 5.1% fewer than in 2010 – were sent home directly from border control points.
According to the Federal Government, Germany remains one of the most attractive European countries for immigrants, including illegal ones. A total of nearly 960,000 foreigners arrived in the country in 2011. The 'Migration Report' reports a notable influx of skilled professionals into Germany, which the German economy so desperately needs: the number of new residents of Germany who applied for a residence permit for work increased by 27% in 2011, reaching 36,000 people.
The main countries from which most of those ready to work in Germany came were India, China, the USA and Croatia. The number of arrivals from other EU states also increased, primarily those fleeing the consequences of the economic crisis: in 2011, 84% more Greeks and 31% more Spaniards moved to Germany compared to the previous year. At the same time, the number of foreigners studying at German universities increased by 10% and reached a record 73,000 people. The majority of foreign students are citizens of China, the USA, Spain, France and Russia.
Many immigrants are highly qualified and expect better labor market prospects in Germany than in their home countries, experts are pleased. But as if in response to the overly optimistic 'Migration Report' of the Federal Government, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sharply criticized German policy in this very area. In international comparison, the efforts of the German authorities to attract foreigners ready to fill the labor market with quality workers are failing – even though Germany overall places fewer obstacles in their way than a number of other developed countries.
Australia, Denmark, Canada and the United Kingdom can boast an influx of skilled immigrants 5 to 10 times higher than Germany's. The conditions for inviting foreigners to vacant jobs in Germany, which were relaxed only last year, have not yet borne fruit. Experts, meanwhile, regard the arrival of skilled immigrants as a key factor in maintaining the competitiveness of many German companies.
Maxim Smirnov,
'Russkaya Germaniya'.