Dollenberg – ESI presentation on the price of inaction: migration and the future of democracy

2 April 2025
Dollenberg
Photo: Dialog Dollenberg

Following his presentation at the state parliament in Stuttgart, Gerald Knaus gave a second presentation in the evening at an event with over 100 participants organised by Dialog Dollenberg, a forum that brings together leaders from business, politics, and civil society to discuss key societal challenges.

In his presentation, Gerald underlined the dramatic scale of forced migration Germany experienced between 2021 and 2024 – the largest in its history. He sharply criticised the outgoing German government for blocking European solutions. Europe, he argued, must regain control over migration without violating its core values or the rule of law. Gerald proposed negotiating agreements that would allow for all refugees arriving by sea after a cutoff date to be either returned or transferred to safe third country. Such deals, he maintained, are essential to reduce numbers in a humane and effective way.

To underscore the urgency, Gerald drew a historical parallel with events between 1938 and 1945 at the border between Baden and Switzerland, where harsh policies failed both morally and practically. He linked this to current developments in the United States, where restrictive migration policies are turning into an assault on human dignity and the rule of law.

Gerald warned that if Europe fails to control migration effectively, politicians who disregard or actively undermine democratic values will come to power – a threat already visible in the rise of the AfD and the election of Donald Trump. He concluded by stressing what must be done now to defend both human rights and democratic institutions.

Dollenberg 2
Photo: Dialog Dollenberg