(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday sought to explain his contentious statements on migration, asserting that his earlier criticism was directed at illegal residents who disregard the law—not at migrants who work and make valuable contributions to the nation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Western Balkans Summit in London, Merz commended immigrants for their positive impact on Germany and reiterated that the country still relies heavily on immigration to sustain its workforce.

His remarks came as an attempt to ease tensions and address backlash following previous comments that had triggered widespread demonstrations.

“Many people with a migration background are already an indispensable part of our labor market. They work in Germany; they live in Germany. They work in nursing homes and at universities,” Merz told reporters.

“We can no longer do without them, regardless of where they come from, their skin color, and whether they are first, second, third, or fourth generation residents of Germany.”

The conservative politician clarified that his reference to a continuing "problem in the cityscape" concerned foreigners residing illegally in Germany and those failing to comply with national laws.

“Problems are caused by those—and this has also been discussed today—who do not have permanent residence status, do not work, and do not abide by our rules. Many of them also shape the public image of our cities,” Merz said.

He further explained, “That is why so many people in Germany and other EU countries are now simply afraid to go out in public. This affects train stations, subways, certain parks, and some neighborhoods, which also cause major problems for our police. We must address the root causes of these problems.”

Through his clarification, Merz aimed to distinguish between law-abiding migrants essential to Germany’s economy and those violating immigration regulations, seeking to calm public debate and political tension surrounding his prior remarks.

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