Germany is the transportation hub in the center of the EU, and its strongest economy.
It is literally completely impossible to control the borders of Germany against illegal immigration without suffocating its economy.
And refugees will travel through multiple other EU countries to get to Germany for the economical chances it offers.
So the only choice Germany really has is whether they want to accept refugees coming in legally, or illegally.
The countries south of Germany are generally poorer and couldn’t individually take in nearly as many refugees as Germany. Germany in return heavily benefits from free trade across Europe. Closing its borders and letting southern Europe struggle would have pretty negative economic consequences for Germany. Denmark doesn’t have the same problem. If Germany, Italy, France and co take care of most refugees, they will still trade with Germany. Should these countries get overwhelmed and start to struggle, Denmark would feel the economic repercussions but would be unable to help in a meaningful way by taking in some of these refugees due to its relatively small size.
Sweden did so voluntarily. Countries like Germany and especially Italy have less of a choice.
Agree on Italy, but Germany? It’s in the middle of Europe with EU countries all around it.
Germany is the transportation hub in the center of the EU, and its strongest economy.
It is literally completely impossible to control the borders of Germany against illegal immigration without suffocating its economy.
And refugees will travel through multiple other EU countries to get to Germany for the economical chances it offers.
So the only choice Germany really has is whether they want to accept refugees coming in legally, or illegally.
The countries south of Germany are generally poorer and couldn’t individually take in nearly as many refugees as Germany. Germany in return heavily benefits from free trade across Europe. Closing its borders and letting southern Europe struggle would have pretty negative economic consequences for Germany. Denmark doesn’t have the same problem. If Germany, Italy, France and co take care of most refugees, they will still trade with Germany. Should these countries get overwhelmed and start to struggle, Denmark would feel the economic repercussions but would be unable to help in a meaningful way by taking in some of these refugees due to its relatively small size.