The German government has decided to end taxpayer support of NGOs involved in civilian rescue in the Mediterranean, with critics long arguing these boats serve as a pull factor for migrants seeking to enter Europe.
Sources at the German Foreign Ministry stated Wednesday: “The federal government no longer plans to provide subsidies to NGOs involved in civilian rescue.”
The decision marks a sharp reversal from the last German left-liberal government, which provided €2 million to these NGOs in 2024, followed by €900,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Money was disbursed to a variety of NGOs such as SOS Humanity, SOS Méditerranée, Sea-Eye, and Sant’Egidio.
The new government coalition, between the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD), is looking to take action against illegal immigration, while making efforts to increase legal immigration at the same time.
The decision was sharply criticized by the left-wing opposition Green Party, with MP Britta Haßelmann, calling it a “dramatic decision.”
Sea-Eye President Gorden Isler called it a “catastrophic signal.” He said that it could mean that ships are docked during emergencies at sea, which could cost the lives of migrants.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is looking to push a “very restrictive” immigration policy in order to curb the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which argues that the CDU’s immigration restrictionist policies are a mirage.
While Merz has implemented some policies, such a tightening border controls, the AfD argues for remigration policies and a complete closure of the border. Nevertheless, even the token gestures from the CDU may be paying off in the polls, helping reduce support for the AfD from 25 percent down to 23 percent.
The question is now how far the SPD will go along with immigration-related proposals from the CDU without alienating its own left-wing base. All signs point to the SPD willing to play ball for now. For one, there is a great desire, even among SPD voters, to bring illegal immigration under control. Furthermore, the SPD is also acutely aware of the growing popularity of the AfD in the country, and there is a push within the establishment to turbocharge legal immigration while cutting illegal immigration.
NGO rescue boats have been credited with saving the lives of thousands of people; however, critics say the boats have turned into a “ferry” service for migrants headed to Europe. They argue that the boats often work in tandem with the smugglers, who know they only have to bring their customers a certain distance before they will be rescued, or sometimes even picked up, by the NGO boats. The presence of the boats also leads to feelings of security for many migrants, which encourages more crossings.
Governments that have enacted strict border control policies, such as the United States under the Trump administration, have seen migrant border crossings plummet up to 95 percent. As a result, fewer people are being trafficked and there are fewer deaths at the dangerous desert border of the United States. In effect, stricter enforcement is saving lives and reducing trafficking immensely.
The NGO rescue boats operating in the Mediterranean are not expected to cease operations, despite the cuts in funding. For one, these NGOs could find new funders. However, more importantly, they already have ample funding from a variety of sources, including German churches, which have sent generous donations to the NGO boats for a number of years.
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