The German city association has sharply criticized the federal government’s planned cuts to integration courses. “Restricting access to these language courses sends the wrong message” said Christian Schuchardt, chief executive officer of the Deutsche Städtetag, in statements to the Sunday editions of the Funke media group.
Voluntary participants now account for roughly half of all enrollees. Schuchardt warned that eliminating or reducing their participation could make it impossible to reach the minimum required numbers for many courses.
Integration programmes target people with little or no German skills. It has recently come to light that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has stopped issuing eligibility certificates for voluntary course participation as of the end of November. According to the interior ministry, the shift is partly aimed at prioritizing refugees with a permanent residency outlook, and it comes as part of broader cost‑saving measures. The ministry estimates that each course costs several thousand euros per participant.
In contrast, the Deutsche Städtetag stresses that the language proficiency and contextual knowledge gained in these courses are essential for local social cohesion. “We need integration opportunities for those who are ready to integrate; otherwise the process will take far longer or may fail entirely” Schuchardt added. He also highlighted the financial benefits: “Every refugee or asylum applicant who finds work eases municipal social spending. Without integration courses, employment becomes almost impossible”.