Understanding Europe

File photo used for illustration: Getting a spousal or family reunification visa is a process with certain requirements, including demonstrating an understanding of German | Source: Screenshot from ZDF report April 11, 2023

Germany: Spousal visa candidates stumble over language requirements

For some people applying for a spousal visa to Germany, the language requirement is causing problems. In 2024, the German Foreign Office distributed slightly fewer visas than in 2023, and many of these seem to be because the candida1

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is welcomed with military honors by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his inaugural visit to Italy on May 17, 2025 | Photo: Michael Kappeler/picture-alliance

German and Italian leaders meet to talk about third-country return hubs

Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Saturday. The two leaders reportedly discussed a number of issues, including the German government’s interest in developing third-coun1

Federal police now carry out checks at the German-Polish border | Photo: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images

Germany tightens border protections: Facts and figures

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has ordered asylum seekers to be turned away at the border. The move is legally and politically controversial.

The new German government has limited avenues to ask for asylum by instructing police to reject asylum seekers at the border. We spoke to legal experts about the new policy | Photo: picture alliance

Germany: What is the legal situation for asylum seekers under new border rejection policy?

Germany will be conducting more checks at the border and refuse entry to many asylum seekers, the new interior minister announced last week. Who exactly will be affected by this? And is the policy actually legal? The German governme1

First-time asylum seeker applications have been trending down in Europe for months | Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP

Why are asylum applications in Germany and EU down?

New statistics reportedly show post-COVID lows in asylum applications to Germany. But does the data provide a complete picture of displacement abroad?