"We are a society of migrants, and the development of our country is closely linked to this phenomenon," Thomas Oppermann is convinced. And those who take to the streets, outraged by the "dominance of foreigners," according to the politician, it is high time to understand that it is immigration that strengthens jobs in Germany. The demographic situation and the inevitable aging of German society mean that 400,000 workers leave the labor market every year. Who will take their places?
As «Русская Германия» writes, it is for these reasons that 193 deputies of the SPD faction voted for the introduction of a new immigration law, which should be developed and adopted by 2017. According to the Social Democrats, qualified specialists should get real chances, depending on their specialty and language skills, to come and work in Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany, in turn, should help new residents not only by providing effective language courses but also by speeding up the process of recognizing foreign diplomas.
How will the country select the necessary specialists abroad? Perhaps the future law will be based on the Canadian system, where applicants' qualifications are checked using a special test, and points are awarded depending on the profession and language skills. Those dreaming of living and working in Canada must score at least two-thirds of all possible points. Those who have committed a serious offense in the past, have health or financial problems, have virtually no chance of entering this country.
"The Canadian model is possible, but it is not the only way," says the leader of the SPD faction about the development of the new law. Over the past two years, more than 1 million specialists from EU countries have come to Germany, 40% of them with a higher education. Of course, this is a great opportunity for the development of the German economy. The only problem is that these qualified personnel may one day just as quickly return to their home countries if the job situation in those countries improves.
The Social Democrats' initiative has so far not found understanding among political opponents in the CDU and CSU. According to Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, "the appropriate rules for successful immigration have long been created and are working." Bavaria's prime minister and CSU chairman Horst Seehofer is also convinced that a new law is completely unnecessary.
"The Greens," who support the SPD initiative, demand a speedy and detailed development of the law. According to faction leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt, the legal basis of immigration is a chance for the future in Germany.