Germany is attempting to differentiate its integration policies from those of other European countries by introducing a co-operation model of integration. At the presentation of the national integration plan on Thursday, Berlin emphasised co-operation: between the government, the social partners and migrants' organisations. Unfortunately, four Turkish organisations refused to co-operate and did not attend Germany's second integration summit.
 Angela Merkel mingling at the Integration Summit (photo: ANP) |
High unemployment
However, the rose-tinted view is somewhat disturbed by unemployment figures. Unemployment rates among immigrants are around 20 percent, double that of the rest of the population. One of the main aims of the national integration plan is to reduce that rate.
Chancellor Angela Merkel described the 400-point integration plan as 'a milestone' in the history of German integration policies. One of its main priorities is reducing the education deficit. Every new immigrant will be offered 900 hours of German language lessons instead of the 600 hours currently on offer. Not spectacular, but Chancellor Merkel has explicitly chosen to implement the plans co-operatively, instead of following the Dutch example and imposing them 'top-down'.
Equal responsibility
The advantages of a co-operative strategy, says Dr Merkel, is that all the participants take equal responsibility for the results. For example, migrant organisations have promised to groom their children for participation in German society. They have also promised to take action against domestic violence. Even though the emphasis is on unemployment, reading between the lines reveals a deep-seated fear of social problems such as so-called 'honour' killings, and of a society within a society where immigrants live according to their own rules.
The Achilles' heel in Dr Merkel's strategy is that those fears cannot be named. Any suspicion of racism is studiously avoided in order not to jeopardise harmonious co-operation. This has resulted in a national integration plan without any requirements, such as an integration exam, or consequences for immigrants who refuse to participate.
Boycott
Despite all the caution, the government has still been accused of racism. Four important Turkish organisations refused to attend even the presentation of the plan, let alone the summit. Ironically enough, the boycott didn't have anything to do with the plans themselves but with a recent change in German immigration laws.
Last week, the German parliament passed legislation making it more difficult for migrant brides to join their partners in Germany. The foreign partners have be aged 18 or over and know around 300 words of German. However, the requirements do not apply to native Germans wishing to bring in a foreign partner.
Softly, softly
In the Netherlands, the discussion about import brides finished long ago and the requirements much higher than in Germany. In that regard, Berlin's plans are far more reminiscent of the softly-softly approach prevalent in the Hague in the 1990s. However, the last few Dutch governments have distanced have distanced themselves from those policies.
In Germany, it appears that even a softly-softly approach will cause migrant organisations to boycott plans that are chiefly for their benefit. There will be a lot of haggling before the co- gets put back into Chancellor Merkel's co-operation model.
Tags: ethnic, Germany, immigration, integration, laws, Merkel, migrants, minorities, Netherlands, plan, policy, summit, tough, Turkish