Pro Asyl criticizes planned cuts

Berlin. The head of the European branch of refugee protection organisation Pro Asyl, Karl Kopp, has sharply criticised the planned cut in federal funding for integration courses. “The clear demarcation of integration courses is a fatal signal,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND). “It makes it more difficult for refugees and migrants to arrive quickly. And he is socio-politically stupid. Early investment in high-quality language and integration courses is an important contribution to an open, inclusive society.”

Jamila Schäfer, a member of the Green parliamentary group responsible for the budgets of the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, told the RND: “A cut in integration courses would be completely absurd at this time. Integration courses are mandatory in Germany and the demand is high.” However, the Ministry of the Interior has “already announced that the basic amount in the government proposal will be increased later if necessary.” Schäfer stressed: “So far, we have planned with a basis, which was then adjusted to actual needs in the course of the year. I therefore do not assume that there will actually be any cuts.”

The money for integration courses should be halved

The federal government wants to make only half as much money available for integration courses next year as before. According to government circles, around 500 million euros have been set aside for this area in the budget of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. This year, with almost 1.1 billion euros, more than twice as much money is available for integration courses for new immigrants and migrants who have been living in Germany for a long time.

The federal admission program for particularly vulnerable Afghans should also no longer continue. It was said that anyone who already has an obligation and is outside Afghanistan would still be allowed to come. However, no new obligations are planned. Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, particularly vulnerable women and men have been able to come to Germany through the program. It is aimed at people who are particularly exposed through their commitment to women and human rights or through their work in the fields of justice, politics, media, education, culture, sports or science.

There are currently around 1.1 million refugees from Ukraine living in Germany. According to the Conference of Ministers of the Interior, the Federal Office in Nuremberg, which is responsible for migration and refugees, also expects around 300,000 new asylum applications for 2024.