The SPD and Germany's Federal Interior Ministry have reached at least a partial agreement on restoring access to integration courses for migrants. SPD domestic policy spokesperson Sebastian Fiedler told WDR, NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung on Tuesday that he was pleased that they had agreed on a compromise solution and that the blanket suspension of admissions was off the table. The Federal Interior Ministry initially did not comment on the agreement.
The deal had previously been reported by WDR, NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. "There will no longer be blanket rejections of voluntary integration course participants," Fiedler stated. "Instead, we have achieved a quota-based reopening for voluntary participation, primarily for Ukrainian refugees and EU citizens who are expected to re-enter the workforce."
According to Fiedler, the new arrangement is set to take effect from June 1. "This also secures the course offerings across the country and restores greater planning certainty," the SPD politician emphasised. Access to the courses had been unilaterally restricted by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). Just last Friday, Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, had also urged a resolution to the dispute.
SPD lawmaker Hakan Demir acknowledged, however, that the financial details of the compromise had yet to be finalised. "Whether there will be sufficient access in the coming years now depends on the budget negotiations," he said. "As the SPD, we stand behind integration courses," he added. Demir expressed regret that course providers had experienced a "phase of planning uncertainty" in recent months due to the restricted access. He said this must not happen again.
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the agreement envisions a cap on overall spending. This would determine a fixed number of voluntary participants whose costs would be covered by the state. Groups with a particular need for integration would be given priority, the newspaper reported, citing sources from within the coalition.
Preference would go to individuals who hold temporary protection in Germany under Section 24 of the Residence Act. At present, this provision primarily applies to refugees from Ukraine. Citizens of other EU member states who are considered relevant to the German labour market would also be prioritised.
The scope of the quota for continued free courses for people without a secure residency status would be tied to the respective federal budget and financial planning, reports stated. The extent to which refugees from other countries would benefit from the agreement remained unclear at first.
"Initial orientation courses are available as an integration offering for individuals in the asylum process," Fiedler explained. These courses are expected to be significantly expanded from November onwards. "Every euro invested in integration pays off," the SPD politician stressed.
Language and integration courses increase the chances of employment, vocational training, tax contributions and social insurance payments. Cutting funding here saves money in the short term "but costs more in the long run through citizen's allowance payments, skilled worker shortages and failed integration," he warned.
Since the introduction of integration courses roughly 20 years ago, more than four million people have participated in them. The courses are widely regarded as a key tool for migrants to learn the German language. The cost per participant amounts to approximately 3,000 euros, according to the reports.
In an effort to cut spending, Interior Minister Dobrindt had moved to limit state-funded integration courses to only those individuals who are eligible to remain in Germany permanently. This excluded people who had not been granted asylum but were legally residing in Germany on the basis of a tolerated stay permit, known as a Duldung. Many within the SPD had viewed Dobrindt's unilateral action as a breach of the coalition agreement.
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