Germans see refugees as biggest problem despite falling numbers
More than half of Germans see refugees and integration as Germany's biggest problem, a survey showed on Friday, despite the number of newcomers falling significantly on the year. Reuters reports.
A record 890,000 mainly Muslim migrants from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere arrived in Europe's largest economy in 2015, prompting concerns about security and integration.
Arrivals have slowed this year, with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) saying on Friday around 305,000 new asylum seekers were registered in its 'EASY' computer system in the first 11 months of 2016; but 'EASY' numbers are seen as too high as some migrants get registered more than once.
The BAMF received 26,438 asylum applications in November - a fall of around 54 percent on the year.
Nonetheless, a survey by pollster Forschungsgruppe Wahlen for broadcaster ZDF found 58 percent of Germans deem refugees and integration the most important problems facing Germany.
Almost two-thirds (60 percent) worry that spending on refugees means money is being saved elsewhere and 52 percent fear that migration will push up crime rates. Just under a third (30 percent) fear that Germany's cultural and social values are under threat due to the refugees.
Fifty percent of Germans think Merkel is doing a good job on refugee policy while 45 percent think her work in this area is "rather bad", the survey of 1,234 people conducted from Dec. 6 to 8 showed.