The ongoing debate surrounding the deportation of Syrian nationals in Germany is raising concerns about potential negative economic consequences, according to prominent economic advisor Martin Werding. Speaking to the dts news agency on Wednesday, Werding highlighted the significant presence of Syrians within Germany’s foreign-born population, noting they now represent one of the three largest groups.
Crucially, he stressed that a considerable portion of this demographic is integrated into the German workforce, contributing across a broad spectrum of roles, from essential labor to highly skilled professions like medicine and nursing. “We genuinely need these people” Werding asserted, underscoring their contribution to the nation’s human capital.
While acknowledging that foreign-born individuals’ overall impact on Germany’s economic performance is not substantial, Werding warned that stringent deportation policies could inadvertently damage long-term growth prospects. He explained that a downturn in the German economy diminishes its appeal as a destination for working migrants, thereby exacerbating existing challenges. Specifically, the current slowdown in migration is, in his view, compounding the already pessimistic medium-term outlook for Germany’s development potential.
Werding’s remarks inject a measured but critical perspective into the politically charged debate. They suggest that focusing solely on deportation risks undermining a vital source of labor and hindering Germany’s ability to adapt to future economic demands, particularly when considering the broader discussions surrounding various forms of migration. The advisor’s intervention implicitly challenges the potential trade-off between political expediency and long-term economic stability, urging a more nuanced approach to migration policy.