How German ministers want to boost skilled migration and integration
At a time when populism and anti-migrant sentiment is on the rise in Germany, the Conference of Integration Ministers (IMK) sought to reaffirm the importance of immigration in German society.
Following the two-day meeting in Göttingen on Wednesday and Thursday, the ministers unanimously adopted a motion titled "Living Together, Working Together" to demonstrate their commitment to diversity.
In it, the state leaders emphasise that everyone - regardless of their background - should be able live together in peace and security and participate in society.
According to the ministers, active participation in working life is a key part of this goal.
The immigration of skilled workers should be promoted just as much as the education and utilisation of the domestic workforce, argued Lower Saxony's integration minister and conference chair Dr. Andreas Philippi.
'In order for this to succeed, advisory and support structures for the immigration and recruitment of skilled workers must be strengthened,' he said.
READ ALSO:
Where to get free immigration advice in Germany
Here are some of the key policies set forward at this year's conference.
Recognising the value of immigration
Due to demographic changes - and particularly the aging population - the IMK motion highlights the importance of foreign workers within the German economy.
'Unfortunately, the current public debate focuses on the challenges of migration," said Philippi. "This one-sided perspective leads to an increase in resentment toward people with a migration background and undermines their trust in our state and society. Yet we depend on migration if we want to defend our prosperity.'
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According to Philippi, the public discussion should be more pragmatic and instead focus on the "opportunities of immigration".
The conference also pledged to recognise the contribution made by guest workers from countries like Turkey, Spain, Italy and Greece as part of Germany's immigration history.
More women in the labour force
In future, the ministers want to see a much higher proportion of migrant women participating in the workforce.
'In all measures, the specific needs and competencies of immigrant women must be taken into account structurally, as their employment rate remains significantly lower than that of immigrant men even after several years of residence," said Stefanie Drese, the integration minister for Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania.
'We need new formats of job placement, stronger cooperation with businesses, and better integration management.'
A doctor reaches for a scalpel during an operation at a hospital in Hamburg. Germany is trying to attract skilled workers intot the country. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Daniel Reinhardt
Drese also highlighted the importance of services
such as regional 'Welcome Centres'
, which help foreigners get set up on arrival in the country. A number of these have already been set up in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Freiburg, Essen, Stuttgart, Heildelberg and Munich.
READ ALSO:
How Munich wants to make settling in Germany easier for non-EU skilled workers
Stable funding from the federal government
With a new CDU/CSU and SPD coalition entering office on May 6th, state ministers are calling on the government to stump up more financial support.
"At the very least, however, there must be no more debates about financial cuts, as was the case in the past," said Philippi. "The federal states and local authorities need planning security here."
However, the ministers also state in their resolution that integration is a joint responsibility between the national government, states, local districts, businesses and civil society.
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Better integration services for foreigners
To ensure a smoother journey for internationals moving to Germany, the conference is eyeing a number of improvements to integration services.
One proposal is for needs-based funding for migration counselling, allowing foreigners easier access to advice and personalised support.
READ ALSO:
The organisations in Germany that are helpful for foreign residents
The ministers are also keen to improve access to the labour market and boost the provision of language courses for foreigners.
The ministers also celebrated a number of successes in immigration policy over the past year, including the introduction of Germany's dual nationality law, lower residence requirements for naturalisation, and the opportunity for people on temporary permits to take part in integration courses.
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DW
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German activist Maja T. goes on hunger strike in Hungary – DW – 06/06/2025
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It expressly referred to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU) and the associated ban on inhumane treatment. The court listed: Inadequate hygiene conditions, lack of access to hot water, bedbugs, poor and little food, extreme temperatures in winter and summer, poor lighting and ventilation in the cells, violence against prisoners by fellow prisoners and prison staff, and rule of law deficits. The Berlin Court of Appeal is responsible for the unlawful extradition. The Constitutional Court accuses the appeals court of ignoring current information on overcrowding and prison conditions in Hungarian prisons. A 'political trial' However, the successful constitutional complaint came too late: Maja T. had already been extradited. Maja T.'s father, Wolfram Jarosch, traveled to Budapest at the start of the trial to offer his 24-year-old child moral support. On the phone with DW, he described the criminal proceedings as a "political trial." 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Local Germany
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So increasingly, landlords max out the 10% the Mietpreisbremse allows – and then make use of all legal options to keep upping the rent. That is one reason so many new rentals are now using the unloved Staffelmiete (defined raises every year) and Indexmiete inflation-linked contracts, which allow for increases of 15 or 20 percent in a three-year period. Previously, it was standard practice – especially among ethically-minded private owners – to issue standard contracts and leave rents more or less untouched for sitting tenants before upping them on re-letting. Now, as rents continue to soar but the Mietpreisbremse limits raises, many private landlords are, perversely, having to hike rents in existing leases to avoid trouble with the Finanzamt further down the line: not charging market rates is, of course, considered a form of tax avoidance. 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Local Germany
8 hours ago
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German Chancellor suggests immigrants have 'imported antisemitism'
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