For years, Germany was seen as one of the EU’s main destinations for work, study and family life. But something has shifted. According to a government‑commissioned study published on Tuesday, around one third of EU citizens living in Germany are now considering leaving the country.
At the same time, statistics show that the emigration of EU workers from Germany has exceeded immigration since 2024, creating a negative migration balance of around 34,000 people. This marks the reversal of the major immigration trend seen in Germany for the previous 15 years.
Perhaps this trend – and the study’s findings – shouldn’t come as a surprise. A number of recent changes – from the government's harder line on immigration to shrinking support services – are contributing to a less than welcoming atmosphere for foreign residents in Germany.
The study, titled “Legally equal – practically disadvantaged? EU immigrants in Germany”, is based on statistical analysis, an online survey of more than 900 EU citizens, and 24 qualitative interviews with counselling organisations.
It was commissioned by the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Integration and Anti‑Racism, Natalie Pawlik of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
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What does the study say about why EU citizens are thinking of leaving?
The headline reasons people gave for wanting to leave are clear: high housing and living costs, a sense of not belonging and experiences of discrimination.
Digging deeper, the study shows that this is not just vague dissatisfaction. Thirteen percent of respondents said they had already taken concrete steps towards emigrating.
The most commonly cited reasons for wanting to leave were high housing costs (42 percent) and high overall living costs (36 percent).
Almost 39 percent of respondents said they did not feel comfortable in Germany, while just under 15 percent cited discrimination. This figure rose sharply to 28 percent among people from southern Europe.
The study’s authors conclude that experiences of discrimination shape the integration process for many EU citizens, particularly those from Romania and Bulgaria, as well as Sinti and Roma residents.
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What could this mean for Germany?
At the end of 2023, around 5.1 million EU citizens were living in Germany, making up 37 percent of all foreigners in the country – a figure that has almost doubled since 2010.
The composition of this population has also changed. Until 2017, southern Europeans formed the largest group, but since 2018 people from eastern and south‑eastern Europe have been in the majority.
Romanians (910,000) and Poles (888,000) are now the two largest national groups, followed by Italians, Bulgarians and Croatians.
Around 2.7 million EU citizens are employed in Germany, with significant numbers concentrated in low‑paid, low‑skilled jobs such as cleaning and transport, where opportunities for advancement are limited.
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How has the study been received?
Presenting the study, Natalie Pawlik (SPD) warned that Germany cannot afford to “lose a third of its [non-German] EU citizens due to poor conditions”, stressing that anyone who works in Germany has the right to participate fully in society.
Her comments point to tensions within the governing coalition. Pawlik has strongly criticised the decision by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to freeze access to voluntary integration and language courses, for example.
She described the move as “fatal” for integration policy, arguing that language is the key to social participation and career progression.
Of the 130,000 people thought to be affected by the course freeze, around 37,000 are EU citizens.
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How to make Germany more friendly to foreign workers
The authors of the study call for better access to language courses, more multilingual information and counselling, stronger enforcement of labour laws and effective action against discrimination.
They also argue that EU citizens should be treated as a central target group in migration and integration policy, rather than being overlooked because they have a legal right to live and work in Germany.
Without these changes, the study warns, Germany risks losing not just workers, but long‑term residents who had once planned to build their lives here.
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