Integration as ‘primary care’
Under the Ampel government, integration policy was characterised by concepts such as participation and diversity. Integration was understood more as ‘primary care’ with a focus on access to language, education and the labour market. Further considerations and measures largely centred on anti-racism and anti-discrimination projects. In this understanding, rights were granted more quickly and were less linked to demands. According to the announcements in the coalition agreement, this understanding will change with the new federal government. This can be exemplified by the following points:
Introduction of a mandatory integration agreement
The introduction of a mandatory integration agreement is planned in order to set out binding rights and obligations. The exact content and the possible legal consequences of non-compliance are not specified in the coalition agreement. Previous voluntary integration agreements set out individual measures and regulations that were intended to structure and support the integration process. The binding agreements now envisaged are intended to make the integration process more transparent and, above all, more binding. If you follow the debate over the last few years, many things are conceivable in terms of the content. For example, the CDU's election programme states: ‘Those who choose our country also choose our values and our liberal democracy. We demand a clear commitment to this.’
Obligation to stay at a certain place of residence for a longer period of time
The residence regulation is to be further developed. Section 12a of the Residence Act stipulates that certain foreign nationals are required to reside in Germany for three years. According to the ideas of the coalition parties, the exceptions are to be reduced. The obligation to stay at a place of residence determined by the state for a longer period of time is to become the rule again. This is seen as a measure to promote sustainable integration. This is based on the understanding that an even distribution of people seeking protection across the federal states prevents immigration from being concentrated in a few cities. This should facilitate access to integration measures such as language courses.
Shortened naturalisation period to be abolished
The planned abolition of so-called ‘turbo naturalisation’ also indicates a shift in emphasis in terms of integration policy. According to Section 10 (3) of the Citizenship Act (StAG), the regular minimum period of residence required for naturalisation can be reduced from five years to three years. This shortened naturalisation period is now to be abolished. However, the naturalisation period of five years is to remain the same for everyone. This can be interpreted as an expression of a basic position according to which the German passport should be at the end of successful integration – and not at the beginning. However, the reform of citizenship law is to be maintained.
Intervene more strongly to promote integration
According to the coalition agreement, integration is a process in which the participation of immigrants is crucial. The coalition agreement therefore reveals a much broader idea of integration compared to the integration policy of the Ampel coalition. This includes not only language, education and work, but also social contact with the majority society and a shared set of values. According to this understanding, participation alone is not an integration policy. As the announcement on the residence regulation shows, the new federal government is prepared to intervene more strongly in order to promote integration. Integration should therefore continue to be supported by the state but should also be demanded much more individually.
