Madame President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Migration is an integral part of today’s interconnected world. It is also a multifaceted issue that requires coordinated and systematic efforts on all levels – local, state, regional and global – to maximize its benefits and overcome persisting challenges.

The “Global Compact on Migration” is a crucial milestone of multilateral cooperation. Like any international agreement, it is only as strong as its implementation, in other words, as the tangible progress achieved on the ground.

We appreciate the “Progress Declaration” for providing an honest and comprehensive assessment. We extend our sincere gratitude to Kenya and Luxemburg as its able co-facilitators.

Together, we have managed to take concrete steps in the right direction since the last Review.

Germany is proud to have actively contributed to this process, both domestically and internationally:

We submitted our national report on the “Compact’s” implementation.

We have consistently pursued a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. This includes the diaspora community in particular. We are delighted to have a representative of this community in our delegation, once again. We have also supported other Member States to do so as well, for example, in preparing the contributions of partner countries to the Regional Migration Review Forums in Latin America and Asia.

We have provided substantial political and financial support to relevant UN actors, international organizations and mechanisms – such as the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund - that contribute to GCM implementation. We closely coordinate with the UN Network on Migration.

In 2025, Germany allocated about 190 million US dollars from its humanitarian budget to Sudan, to alleviate the unbearable suffering of people in the largest displacement crisis worldwide. We recently hosted the Sudan Conference in Berlin, leveraging a pledge of more than 1.7 billion US dollars, offering a beacon of hope for those in need.

Looking forward, we see the need for even stronger joint efforts to ensure that migration is safe, orderly, and regular. This includes new ways to take a balanced approach and tackle existing challenges. Germany, for its part, regulates and controls migration and is committed to effectively curbing irregular migration.

The following principles and lines of action remain of particular importance for us:

Human rights and basic humanitarian principles must be fully respected and upheld at all times.

Trafficking in persons, labor exploitation and forced labor must be effectively prevented and prosecuted. Vulnerable groups, including women and children, must receive due protection and assistance. We need to combat the smuggling of migrants, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators, while addressing the conditions that drive people into the hands of smugglers.

The root causes of migration, such as conflict and climate change, need to be addressed, or – as in the case of natural disasters – better anticipated and mitigated effectively.

Pathways for regular labor migration need to be enhanced.

Partnerships and multilateral cooperation need to be strengthened.

Again, Germany is walking the talk:

A key component of Germany´s migration policy are mutually beneficial partnership agreements with third countries. These aim to strengthen cooperation on returns, boost economic cooperation, and promote the securing and qualification of skilled workers. We will continue to pursue this approach.

With programs such as the “Global Skills Partnerships”, we are actively investing in regular migration pathways in countries of origin and destination, as well as in fair and ethical recruiting.

We support services giving advice about legal migration options in partner countries around the world.

Moreover, we will continue to assist those in vulnerable situations, such as trafficked migrants or children left behind, for example in the Horn of Africa region and in Eastern Europe.

In closing, let me assure you that Germany will continue to fully support the “Global Compact’s” vision and principles.