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Integration in Germany

Berlin, 16 April 2013

www.bmi.bund.de

Integration is a Federal Government priority

This concerns a great number of policy areas; lead: Federal

Ministry of the Interior

What does integration mean?

→ Equal opportunities and participation

Who are the addressees?

→ Immigrants who are legal residents and are likely to

stay in Germany for the long term, irrespective of their

national or ethnic origin

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What is the Federal Government's role?

→ primarily, legislative

→ requires specific conditions to be met:

no immigration without integration.

→ on the principle of providing support but asking for

more effort in return.

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Key to integration: German language skills

Anchor measure: Integration courses

carried out by approx. 1,500 course providers across

Germany

→ 600 hours of language instruction + 60 hours of orientation

course

Aim: Language level B 1 and familiarization with life in Germany

→ The Federal Government has spent more than

1 billion euros on these courses since their introduction in

2005. In 2013: € 209 million

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Integration courses - trends

→ since 2005, more than 1.13 million immigrants were entitled to take part;

approx. 480,000 immigrants were required to take part

approx. 530,000 participants have successfully completed courses

→ since 2005, a total number of 855,000 have attended

→ at present, there are roughly 95,000 new participants per year

→ overall: number of participants is decreasing; however, the number of EU citizens attending such courses is growing; In 2012: over 20 000 EU citizens16.04.2013 5

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Accompanying measures

Advising for adult immigrants;Migration advising for adult immigrants (MBE) offered during and after participation in the course→ 2013: 25.7 million euros were spent on MBE

Project funding: Measures aiming at the social integration of immigrants at the local level→ 2013: 16.7 million euros were spent on projects→ The focus is on neighbourhood community-oriented projects.

Important aspect: Strengthening the integration work carried out by immigrant organizations; therefore, structural funding was introduced in 2013

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Outlook: Future trends

Shortage of skilled labour due to demographic change

Recruitment of well skilled workers becomes more and more

important.

Germany must become more attractive for highly skilled

workers, for example by reducing red tape and recognizing

foreign qualifications

To sum up: Developing a more welcoming culture

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Thank you!

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