Annual Report

‘Who’s in charge here?’ Federal associations of migrant organisations: a navigation aid

Study | November 2024

There are currently 36 federal associations of migrant organisations (MO associations for short) in Germany, which are diverse in terms of content and structure. The SVR's scientific staff has now presented a new study that systematises this diversity and develops a typology of MO associations active at federal level. Under the title ‘Who’s in charge here? Federal associations of migrant organisations: a navigation aid’, the study provides an overview of how the profiles of the individual types of MO associations differ and for which forms of political consultation and cooperation they are particularly recommended.

To this end, following an inventory of MO associations at federal level, their websites were qualitatively evaluated. The focus was on the respective mission statements, claims of representation and practical work priorities (in particular project work). In addition, background discussions were held with representatives of MO federal associations and the federal administration. The analysis shows that, on the one hand, MO associations can be classified as part of the general association system, but on the other hand they have certain special features. The study explains how cooperation between the state and MO associations could be further developed in a type-specific manner and also discusses various options for MO federal associations to reduce their current high dependence on public funding.

Arrived and transnationally connected: Afghan immigrants in Germany

Study | October 2024

The number of Afghans living in Germany has increased significantly over the last decade as a result of refugee arrivals. Many are still at the beginning of their integration process, but given the situation in Afghanistan, it is likely that they will remain in Germany for the long run. At the same time, they maintain transnational connections to their country of origin. As part of the research project “Transnational Networks and Civil Society Activities in the Context of Forced Migration: Afghan and Syrian Communities in Germany”, the SVR's scientific staff researched the experiences of Afghan immigrants in Germany: How have they settled in Germany? What challenges do they face? What do their social networks in Germany look like and what connections do they have to Afghanistan?

The survey offers initial insights into the lived realities and transnational ties of the Afghan community. The data, which was collected via an online survey, also allows for a comparison between Afghan immigrants who moved to Germany after the Taliban took power in 2021 and those who have been living in Germany for longer. The study contributes to a better understanding of arrival processes and transnational dynamics in the context of refugee migration and thus provides contextual information about the experiences of an important immigrant group in Germany.

Refugee country as a new home: Naturalisation of refugees after the reform of German citizenship law

Policy Brief | September 2024

What experiences do refugees have with naturalisation? How does this affect their further integration and participation in society? What opportunities and hurdles does the reform of citizenship law, which came into force on 27 June 2024, present? These and other questions are the focus of the research project ‘Naturalisation as an “integration booster” for refugees’ by the SVR's scientific staff. The background to this is also the current naturalisation boom: a new high of over 200,000 naturalisations was reached in 2023. This increase is primarily due to refugees, who increasingly fulfil the criteria for naturalisation and show a particularly high level of interest in becoming naturalised compared to other immigrants. The project is funded by Stiftung Mercator and will run until 2026. An initial policy brief summarises the existing knowledge and identifies gaps in research.

No passport. Nowhere? Political, legal and administrative approaches in dealing with statelessness

Study | June 2024

The number of people living in Germany without or with an undetermined nationality has increased significantly in recent years. In Germany, the authorities responsible for implementing residence and nationality law are key actors in determining statelessness. Their decisions determine the legal status and life of those affected. However, there are no systematic findings to date on the decision-making practices of German immigration authorities in the context of statelessness; the administration is described as a 'black box'. The scientific staff of the SVR therefore conducted a study to analyse how statelessness is determined in practice by the authorities, who is considered stateless, what scope for discretion exists and what challenges authorities face. The study provides policy recommendations at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

The Study was funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

New Pathways, New Hurdles? The Reform of Citizenship Law and Potential Consequences for Authorities and Vulnerable Groups

Policy Brief | June 2024

On June 27, the act to modernize citizenship will come into effect. Along with significant liberalizations in naturalization, it also introduces stricter requirements. For example, the requirement for securing a livelihood will be enforced more strictly, and exceptions will be largely abolished. In light of these changes, the scientific staff of the SVR has examined the practical implications for both affected individuals and authorities.

The motives and motivation of volunteers in refugee assistance. Results of a survey on volunteer work

Study | April 2024

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to a surge in willingness to help those who fled to Germany. The scientific staff of the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) conducted a survey on volunteer work to investigate the motives and attitudes of those who volunteer to support refugees. Based on that analysis the study discusses recommendations for future mobilisation strategies that are aimed at politicians and authorities at the municipal level as well as at employers, associations and civil society organisations at the local level.

Permanent residence, return or circular mobility? Options for Ukrainian war refugees after temporary protection

Study | January 2024

More than four million war refugees from Ukraine are currently living in the European Union, a quarter of them in Germany. In 2022, a temporary collective protection scheme was adopted by the European Union. It will expire in March 2025. The German and the other European governments have only one year left to make the necessary preparations for future regulations. The scientific staff of the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) has therefore conducted a study to analyse what legal options are available for a continued stay of war refugees and how the legitimate interests of Ukraine, the current host countries and the refugees themselves can be taken into account through assisted return or circular mobility. The study provides recommendations both for policy-makers at European level and for the federal and state governments in Germany.

Police stops in Germany: People who look foreign are stopped more frequently

Policy Brief | November 2023

Discriminatory police practices such as racial profiling have been the subject of debate in Germany for a number of years – though without any reliable underlying statistics. The scientific staff of the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) has now for the first time examined the link between perceived phenotypic difference and police stops in Germany based on data drawn from a national representative survey. The findings show that respondents who are perceived as foreign are stopped by the police around twice as frequently as those who are not.

The policy brief is based on an analysis of data taken from the SVR’s 2022 Integration Barometer. A total of 15,005 people with and without a migration background were surveyed between late November 2021 and early July 2022 for the fourth such national representative survey.

Selective Solidarity? What makes people willing to help refugees

Policy Brief | July 2023

Refugee migration to Germany increased significantly again in 2022. The number of asylum applications submitted by people from countries such as Syria or Afghanistan continued to rise, while from February 2022, refugees began to arrive in Germany as a result of the war in Ukraine. Against this backdrop, in the spring of 2023 the SVR Research Unit carried out a study to investigate whether the German population’s willingness to accept and support refugees varies in relation to different refugee groups.

The policy brief shows that help is especially likely to be offered to Ukrainian, Christian, highly educated women who intend to return home. However, there is a substantial willingness to support refugees in general. The difference in the willingness to help one group more than another is only marginal, and depends, too, on the personal characteristics of the respondents. Political attitudes, a feeling of political self-efficacy and trust in institutions are all particularly relevant for whether or not a respondent shows solidarity towards those seeking asylum. This means that local politics could have an important influence on behaviours; in areas where the local citizens feel that their needs are being addressed, this is likely to have a positive effect on solidarity with refugees.

The Policy Brief was funded by the Stiftung Mercator.