Presentation by Mr Ulrich Weinbrenner, Head of Directorate of social cohesion an integration at the Federal Ministry of the Interior

Slide 1:Working Group on Migration & Integration5th December 2017 in HamburgUlrich Weinbrenner,Head of Directorate of social cohesion an integrationat the Federal Ministry of the InteriorSlide 2:BreakdownSome statistics and facts about GermanyIntegration Act & Integrated management of refugeesLanguage courses at federal levelAdditional measures such as Migrant Advisory and Integration projectsSlide 3:Population of Germany„as big as never before“: nearly 83 million inhabitantsoverall trend of shrinkage (since 1972 more deaths than births) not reversed, but on hold:because of migration (net plus of around 1 million in 2015)already today a very ‘colourful’ population:18.6 million with migrant background (= 22.5 %)90.5% of them live in former western Germany, 5.5% in Berlin, 4% in former east G.different age structureSlide 4:Applications for asylum filed and decisions taken between 2012 and October 2017Slide 5:Integration Act &Integrated management of refugeesSlide 6:German Integration ActEarly participation in integration coursesLegal certainty during trainingBetter management owing to allocation of a place of residenceEmployment opportunities for refugeesNo labour market priority checkSettlement permit depends on integrationGoal: early intervention – focus on language/employmentSlide 7:Integrated management of refugeesSlide 8:Federal Language Tuition Programmes in GermanySlide 9:Language training – facts, data and figures2016 total | 2017to dateIntegration coursesNew course participants (cumulative) | 340.000 | 257.000Number of persons entitled (cumulative) | 560.000 | 359.000of whom were admitted (asylum seekers) (cumulative) | 200.000 | 12.000Number of active teachers | 18.600 | 20.201Number of schools | 1.734 | 1.736Slide 10:new since Oct. 2015: asylum applicants and persons with a suspended deportation order with a good chance of being allowed to stay are now also eligibleIntegration coursesNumber of new participantsSlide 11:Integration coursesFunds in million €Slide 12:Integration Courses2005: New Residence ActMillions of immigrants with different backgrounds came and stayed in Germany → a very heterogeneous groupExtent of immigration and the need for a coherent integration policy were underestimated for a long time (“Germany is not a country of immigration.”)1st of January of 2005: New Residence Act setting standards for German integration policy→ Most important element: Unification of language tuition for adult immigrants: The Integration CoursesSlide 13:GoalsLanguage Level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)→ Language CourseKnowledge of society, politics, culture, history and legal system in Germany→ Orientation CourseSlide 14:Current structureLanguage course: 600 lessons (à 45 minutes)Orientation course: 100 lessons (à 45 minutes)Special integration courses for young adults, women, parents, illiterate persons and persons who have learnt the German language in a non-educational context (up to 1,000 lessons)Possibility to complete the integration course in only 430 lessonsSlide 15:Testing (1)Final test for the language course:Scaled language test “Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer” (DTZ)(German test for immigrants)→ Shows the level of proficiency achieved in the integration course (A2 or B1 according to CEFR)Possibility of repeating another 300 lessons and the German test for immigrants if the main goal (B1) has not been achievedSlide 16:Testing (2)Final test for the orientation course:Test “Life in Germany”(Multiple-choice-test with 33 questions)If participants pass the two final tests (Language level B1 and give 15 correct answers to “Life in Germany”), they receive the “Zertifikat Integrationskurs” (certificate of successful completion of the integration course).“Life in Germany” serves also as a prerequisite for subsequent naturalisation if 17 questions are answered correctly.Slide 17:Quality assurance and Outcomes 2016Standardised criteria for teacher’s qualificationSystem of further education for teachers who don’t meet that qualificationStandardised criteria for teaching materialCourse controlsPermanent commission established to monitor the organisation and implementation of integration courses51,4% percent of those who have participated in the German course for immigrants have achieved level B1.38,5% have achieved level A2.Slide 18:51,4% percent of those who have participated in the German course for immigrants have achieved level B1.38,5% have achieved level A2.Slide 19:Challenges for the integration courseThe total number of participants as well as the percentage of refugees have risen enormously in the past year.In 2016 the number of participants has doubled in relation to the number 2015→ Big challenges for integration policy and the integration course system:Extension of the infrastructureIntegration of migrants into the labor market as soon as possibleSlide 20:MeasuresNumber of participants per class increasedTeachers received a salary increaseAdjusted criteria for teachers’ qualification→ More teachers available to the systemProjects offering a combination of integration course and early professional qualificationSlide 21:New programme: National Vocational Language TrainingBasic Modules (from 2016):General Vocational Language Training for Language LevelsB2, C1 and C2Special Modules (from 2017):Modules below B2 (A1→ A2 and A2→ B1)Modules for special professions or professional categoriesModules for persons in the process of having professional qualifications acquired abroad recognisedSlide 22:What does the migration advisory service involve?Migration-specific advisory services complementing integration courses (Migration advisory service for adult immigrants = MBE)Target group: immigrants with a residence title and asylum seekers with good prospects of remaining in Germany for more than 27 yearsThese services are provided by voluntary welfare organisationsThese organisations help to fund the advice service (currently to the tune of €7 million).Slide 23:Migration advisory serviceBudget in €mSlide 24:Migration advisory serviceca. 1,000 locations (600 main advice centres and 400 advice branches)in nearly all cities and rural districts1,355 staff2016: ca. 260,000 casesSlide 25:What do integration projects involve?Funding for projects aimed at the social integration of migrantsStrengthening of skills and active participation of immigrants, improving mutual acceptance, crime prevention and prevention of violenceOver 200 projects throughout GermanySlide 26:Integration projects: example 1Source: Café MondialProject “My twin from another mother”: Café Mondial in Konstanz brings refugees and German nationals together who have the same birthday date.Community-based projectsUp to three years of €50,000 per year max.Annual call for tenders on thematic focal pointsFocal points: promoting a culture of welcome and recognition for new immigrants through information and orientation services. Strengthening the intercultural dialogue108 projects in 2016 and 63 projects in 2017 carried outSlide 27:Integration projects: example 2Building a bridge between the receiving society and migrant communitiesGoal: to strengthen them as cooperation partners in the long term2013 – 2016: 10 migrant organisations received funds of €1.2 million per year7 migrant organisations received a 2-year extension2017 new call for tenders for migrant organisations that are involved in providing assistance to refugeesStructural funds for migrant organisationsSlide 28:Initial orientation coursesTarget group: asylum seekers whose prospects of remaining in Germany are uncertainObjective: knowledge of Germany and basic command of the German languageScope: 300 lessonsBudget for 2017: €40 millionCourses delivered in all the federal LänderSlide 29:Many thanks!