Migration concerns drove Germans to vote in EU election ballots

Germany's border restrictions have recently dominated political discussions within the country, triggering similar debates across the EU, however, a newly published Eurobarometer survey reveals that this issue has been on the public's mind for some time.

In response to a deadly knife attack in Solingen, western Germany, and the pressures of state election campaigns, threatening the federal government coalition, Germany adopted a tougher stance on migration. A topic that resonated with voters during the European elections.

During the EU elections, 44% of surveyed German voters cited migration and asylum as their main concerns influencing their vote, making Germany the only EU country where this was the top concern, according to a Eurobarometer survey by the European Parliament. This contrasts with the previous European elections in 2019, where 55% of Germans identified combating climate change as their main reason for voting.

In comparison, on average, only 28% of all EU citizens thought that migration played a role in their choice this year.

Throughout the EU, the financial situation of the citizens was more of a concern, with topics such as the cost of living (41%) and economic situation (41%), being the main concerns making their choice on the ballot.

In the run-up to the elections, it became clear that the election campaigns were built upon the economic and security fears of the voters.

Most German parties focused their messages on the economic challenges, and security and peace issues, backed up by exit polls on election day. In contrast, the Eurobarometer concluded that topics of cost of living (37%), the economic situation (36%), and the international situation (37%) were secondary to concerns over migration and asylum (44%).

Migration is here to stay

Although migration and asylum policies were not widely discussed during the German EU election campaigns, the issue quickly gained attention afterwards. A deadly knife attack by a refugee, right before important state elections in eastern Germany, forced a shift in the Federal Government's position.

Under severe pressure from the far-right opposition, which eventually made significant gains in all three states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, outright winning in one, and the conservative federal opposition leader CDU (EPP) also pushing this issue, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD/S&D) decided to implement stricter border controls.

Though at some border crossings, Germany had already started checking for irregular migration since last year, controls on all land borders became effective from 16 September – less than a week before the last of the three state elections, Brandenburg. An election won by Scholz's social democrats, defying previous tight polls.

The introduced restrictions, whose goal was to largely turn away refugees already registered in other EU states, drew controversial reactions from Germany’s European partners.

In response to warnings from Athens about endangering Schengen's free movement and concerns about deteriorating relations with Warsaw, Scholz defended his measures, arguing that, “It is necessary for us to endure this dispute.”

Germany's other neighbours took advantage of this new attitude towards border controls inside Schengen and considered similar steps. The right-wing government of the Netherlands included the goal to opt out of EU migration policies in their coalition agreement, and France was willing to renegotiate the Migration Pact.

The migration issue, and consequential free movement restrictions in the EU, have now gained such significance throughout the continent. It has prompted the European Parliament to put the topic on the agenda for the next plenary session in Strasbourg towards the end of the month.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]