Hans‑Eckhard Sommer, the head of Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), has publicly declared that integration courses should not be mandatory for all asylum seekers. In a statement to “Der Spiegel”, he said the law specifies that such courses are meant for “people who live legally and permanently in Germany”. “Asylum seekers simply do not fall into that category” Sommer asserted.
He added that, for several years, asylum seekers were still granted the right to attend these courses, though he questions why the Federal Court of Auditors never highlighted this issue. According to Sommer, expanding the courses so far was a mistake. Instead, he points to shorter orientation courses that already exist for asylum applicants. He argues it would be illogical to force them to undertake a nine‑month integration program when their own return decisions are still uncertain after a rejected application.
The Ministry of the Interior, headed by Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, had recently announced budget cuts for integration courses-a move that sparked public backlash. Under the new plan, courses would be limited to individuals with a “positive stay prospect”. This means that foreigners-particularly asylum seekers whose cases are not yet resolved-will no longer be allowed free participation, even if there are available spots.
The integration courses that do remain include approximately 600 hours of German language instruction and 100 hours of orientation covering, among other topics, the German legal system. During the preceding coalition government, these courses were open to all interested parties. The upcoming changes are intended to reverse that broader access and restrict it to those with a clear right to remain in the country.