Features of Germany's new migration policy in the context of multilevel governance theory

This study focuses on the new migration policy of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The research aims to identify the migration strategy introduced by Olaf Scholz and the ruling "traffic light" coalition for the pan-European asylum system. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the multilevel governance theory, which employs three levels of analysis: national, supranational, and subregional. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of Germany's national migration policy, followed by its application at the EU's integration level and within the subregional context. The African region was selected as a subregional case study due to the high percentage of migrants arriving from this area. The novelty of the research lies in its analysis of changes in Germany's migration policy, which came into effect in 2023–2024, using an unconventional integration theory to substantiate shifts in the country's foreign policy course. The research findings are presented at each individual level. At the national level, the authors identified key changes in Germany's migration policy and, more importantly, examined the attitudes within the country's political establishment toward these changes. At the supranational level, conclusions were drawn regarding the influence of Germany's new approach on the pan-European asylum policy. Finally, at the subregional level, the study assessed the impact of these processes on the African region, which significantly contributes to the growing number of migrants in the EU. The results have both theoretical and practical applications. The research demonstrated the efficacy of the methodological toolkit provided by multilevel governance theory and established a connection between changes in Germany's migration policy and the pan-European strategy.

migration policy, Federal Republic of Germany, FRG, German ruling coalition, European Union, EU, CEAS, multi-level governance theory, African migration, disintegration processes