Overview

• Dieter Reiter praised the city’s 2015 response as a moment of extraordinary civic solidarity that drew international attention.
• He said public attitudes do not regard the 2015 welcome as a mistake, pointing to a similar response during the 2022 arrivals from Ukraine.
• Reiter reported growing frustration about why many newcomers end up in Munich and argued that a city’s economic strength should not determine allocation.
• He noted that the federal government covers accommodation costs and suggested less affluent municipalities with available space could host more people.
• Emphasizing labor needs, he said migration is essential to keep restaurants, hospitals, and care homes running, and he reiterated his rejection of an ‘Obergrenze’ with the phrase, “There is no upper limit to humanity.”