Germany's state integration ministers have called on the federal government to reverse access restrictions to language and integration courses for immigrants. The demand comes amid concerns over recent cuts to these programs.
"It's about a comprehensive integration infrastructure that is also permanently and reliably financially supported by the federal government," explained North Rhine-Westphalia Integration Minister Verena Schäffer (Greens) following a ministerial conference on Thursday in Essen. State officials there called for "reliable language support for immigrants."
"Integration is a permanent task that affects all levels of government," stated a declaration released by the current chair state North Rhine-Westphalia after the conference concluded. "Immigration and integration stand as an opportunity and enrichment for democratic and diverse society in the foreground."
"When the federal government withdraws from financing central integration offerings, it makes integration more difficult and weakens social cohesion," criticized Hamburg's Social Senator Melanie Schlotzhauer (SPD), referring to cuts to integration courses implemented by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU).
"Instead of cutting rigorously, the federal government must finally provide sufficient language courses" and "sustainably finance advisory structures," demanded Schleswig-Holstein's Integration Minister Aminata Touré (Greens).
"Whoever stops integration doesn't save money, but causes long-term additional costs," warned the GEW trade union on the occasion of the ministerial conference, speaking out against the cuts. "In the short term, there's a small plus in the budget, but in the long term, the state faces unforeseeable costs, for example through additional social benefits and lost tax and social insurance revenue," warned GEW board member Ralf Becker.
The GEW pointed out that a petition it launched against cuts to language and integration courses has now been signed by more than 140,000 people.
"From past experience, we know that the follow-up costs of inadequate language skills exceed the savings effect many times over," stated Greens migration expert in the Bundestag, Filiz Polat. She also insisted on maintaining authority-independent asylum procedure counseling "as a central building block for a smooth process of asylum procedures" and welcomed the support from integration ministers.
According to the Residence Act, foreign nationals have a legal right to participate in an integration course if they received their first residence permit after January 1, 2005, and permanently reside in Germany. Other migrants can voluntarily participate in the courses, provided sufficient places are available.
In early February, it became known that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has not been issuing authorization certificates for voluntary participation in the courses since the end of November. Dobrindt justified this with budget constraints.
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