Arriving in a new country without abandoning the past

From Thu, 12.07.2007, Source: www.REGIERUNGonline.de.

The National Integration Plan has been adopted. Along with the federal states and local authorities, associations of migrants and numerous other non-governmental actors, the German government has adopted more than 400 measures and voluntary commitments relating to integration. Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of a milestone in the history of integration policy.

Germany is home to some 15 million people with a migrant background. Integrating these individuals is the task of society as a whole. The 90 or so participants of the Second Integration Summit at the Federal Chancellery were unanimous on this point.

It is, however, also clear that integration cannot be imposed from above. The migrants themselves must do their bit. "We no longer talk about migrants, but with them" declared Maria Böhmer, Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees, and Integration, hitting the nail on the head. She announced that the federal government will be expanding integration courses, so that immigrants will receive 900 hours of instruction in German language and culture rather than the current 600 hours. Special courses are to be made available to young people and women.

Industrial associations have agreed to give young migrants better chances of obtaining and completing a traineeship. A network of education sponsors is to help children and young people from migrant families in the school and during their training.

Numerous voluntary commitments on the part of all partners aim to give women and girls better chances, and not only in working life. The federal government is determined to fight the practice of forced marriage. Support will be forthcoming to set up emergency shelters for female migrants. Federal Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries stressed the key role played by migrant women, in their role as mothers, for the integration of their children.

A joint success

The National Integration Plan now adopted is the result of a year of work. In various working groups, participants discussed how to move forward with integration in the wake of the First Integration Summit, which was held in 2006. The measures agreed, which affect all areas of public life, are based on one common principle – lending support while requiring migrants to do their bit.

During the summit "Integration does not mean that we will all become the same," the Chancellor pointed out. The aim is to create equal opportunities for education, development and prosperity for everybody living in Germany. But this can only come about with the cooperation of migrants. Merkel quoted one young summit participant, "I do not need to leave behind where I come from in order to arrive at my destination".

All actors are called on to pull their weight – first and foremost the government. The Federal Minister of Justice pointed out that every fourth trainee in Germany comes from a migrant background. This is true of only about two percent of trainees in the civil service, however. In future, public-sector employers aim to set a good example.

German government remains open for dialogue

In the lead-up to the summit some associations of Turkish migrants had voiced their criticism of the new immigration legislation. Their concerns targeted in particular the requirement that married women moving to Germany to join their husbands are to be required to demonstrate minimum German language skills. Three associations decided to boycott the summit.

The second chamber of the German parliament, the Bundesrat, passed the new Immigration Law on Friday. Among other things it raises the minimum age for wives or husbands immigrating to Germany to join their spouses to 18 in a move to prevent forced marriages and fictitious marriages. For the first time too spouses will be required to master simple German language skills.

Excellent cooperation Merkel reminded her audience that the legislation translates into German law an EU directive, which was decided on for good reason. And there are exceptions to the rule: Linguistic skills will not be required if the personal circumstances of the individual makes it impossible to acquire these. Neither will they be required for migrants where it is clearly recognisable that minimal inputs will be required for integration. This applies to Turkish citizens as to citizens of any other country.

The German government will stick by its "policy of the outstretched hand" in spite of some unacceptable statements made, according to Merkel. Those associations too, which were no longer at the table, had made a valuable contribution to the National Integration Plan over the last months, she stressed.

Progress made in implementing the National Integration Plan is to be reviewed in autumn 2008.

This article may also be viewed here.

More information and the complete National Integration Plan (both in German language) can be found on www.REGIERUNGonline.de.

English flyer of the National Integration Plan (PDF, 625KB)