Resent study
A migration policy that unites
The results of a new, representative and independent survey by More in Common show which values are important to people in Germany when it comes to migration policy. There is agreement beyond political divides.
Migration is an ongoing issue of public concern in Germany, but surveys often only shed light on people's opinions on current policies, not on their fundamental attitudes. A new study by More in Common, funded by the foundation, addresses this gap and shows which values are important to people when it comes to migration policy. The picture is more nuanced than the political debate would suggest.
Central concerns: control, contribution, and compassion
73%respondents support the principle of protecting refugees
The representative study identifies three central concerns across all segments of society in migration policy: control, i.e. the capacity to act on and shape migration, contributions of new arrivals to society and compassion towards those in need. People do not think in terms of a “yes-no logic”, but try to reconcile these priorities.
In a new, representative and independent study, our partner More in Common surveyed over 2,000 people in Germany. The findings reveal a perception of migration that is ambivalent to critical—but far less polarized than it might seem. Most citizens are calling for an immigration policy that is effective, transparent, and solution-oriented.
The survey, titled 'Europe Talks Migration', was also conducted in four other European countries: France, Spain, Poland, and Italy.
Agreement beyond political divides
61%61% support controlled immigration
For German migration policy, especially in the intensely debated issue of asylum, this means that there is agreement beyond political divides. The majority attach more importance to controlling migration than to reducing it. At the same time, 73% of all respondents support the principle of protecting refugees. Weighing up these priorities leads to a majority supporting a combination of restrictive and enabling measures, even on the political fringes: 45% are in favor of safe and legal migration routes for refugees in combination with border controls. 27% only want increased border controls, while 19% are only in favor of improved safe and legal pathways for refugees.
Shaping migration with safe and legal pathways
It is therefore a question of better shaping immigration, balancing concerns such as control, empathy and the contributions of new arrivals.
This means, for example, that two-thirds of respondents think that people who are required to leave the country should be deported consistently, while half of respondents believe that integration-supporting measures—such as language courses—should be expanded. The research also shows that many people link immigration with economic strength: the deployment of workers in key industries is seen as the most important benefit of migration for Germany.
This is where the foundation's work on migration comes in: We are committed to a migration policy that upholds human dignity and demonstrates how managed migration can contribute to the economy, prosperity and society. In addition to an individual right to seek asylum, voluntary humanitarian programs and complementary migration options, such as the labor migration of skilled refugees or opportunities for those who can become skilled migrants through training or studies, are central building blocks for this.