Migration straining German-Greek relations

A recent opinion poll has revealed a significant improvement in Germany's image in Greece over the past two years. The positive survey results largely reflect stable and mostly trouble-free bilateral relations between Athens and Berlin. The days when many Greeks blamed Berlin (and Brussels) for the austerity measures imposed during the financial crisis seem distant.

However, the new narrative of bilateral harmony is not without its imperfections. When Greek and German diplomats meet - and they do so frequently - the topic of migration is consistently on the agenda, and on this issue, their positions are often misaligned.

As migration has become a prominent issue in European domestic politics, it now also plays a critical role in foreign affairs. In German-Greek relations, the central concern involves migrants who first enter Europe through Greece but quickly seek to...