A new government has been formed in Germany, bringing together the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD).
According to the published 144-page coalition agreement, the country plans to tighten its migration policy and citizenship requirements over the next four years. Key measures include restrictions on asylum applications, the suspension of voluntary resettlement programs for vulnerable groups, and a more difficult process for acquiring German citizenship. CDU leader Friedrich Merz announced the launch of a “repatriation offensive” aimed at accelerating the deportation of individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected.
Border controls will be strengthened, and it will become more difficult for people arriving from other EU countries to apply for asylum in Germany—especially if they have already been in a “safe” country. In addition, family reunification rights for individuals with so-called “subsidiary protection” will be suspended for two years. The previously existing quota of 1,000 monthly entry permits for such cases will be abolished, except for certain “hardship cases.”
The government also plans to expand the list of “safe countries of origin,” which will result in the automatic rejection of asylum applications from nationals of those countries—except in exceptional individual cases.
In terms of citizenship policy, the accelerated three-year naturalization process introduced by the previous government will be abolished. However, some of the recent reforms will remain in place, such as reducing the required residency period from eight to five years and allowing dual citizenship. There is also an ongoing discussion about the possibility of revoking the citizenship of individuals with dual nationality who are suspected of extremism.
