The questions were the most practical ones – for example, about state assistance in learning the German language both for newcomers and for those who, having lived in Germany for many years, have not managed to master the language even at the most basic level. No less important were issues of vocational training, employment assistance, and social protection of women. In the heat of last year's discussions, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble even called for holding services in local mosques in German – which would require organizing the training of Islamic clergy in Germany.
A year ago, it was decided that a plan for cooperation between the state and public organizations in the integration of foreigners would be adopted at the current meeting. Last week, this document, several hundred pages long and containing over four hundred commitments on immigrant integration, was presented at the summit. Currently, about 7.5 million foreigners live in Germany. If unregistered migrants are added to this official figure, it can be confidently stated that today 10% of the 82-million population hold foreign passports. This statistic does not include former foreigners who have received German passports; their number also exceeds 7 million people.
The largest ethnic group among foreigners is the Turks – there are over 2 million of them in Germany. However, the leading unions and communities of Turks refused to participate in the integration summit. Despite all the efforts of the state, a significant part of Turks living in Germany does not seek to obtain German citizenship or embrace German culture. This applies not only to older people, for whom the integration issue is less relevant, but also to young people.
The stumbling block was the new version of the immigration law, approved last week in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament. The document, in particular, introduced changes in the area of family reunification. Foreign family members arriving in Germany must pass a German language exam. This refers to the most basic level of knowledge necessary for everyday life. However, the leaders of Turkish associations considered this requirement unfair and, on the eve of the forum, presented German Chancellor Angela Merkel with an ultimatum demanding the repeal of the new provision. At the same time, a corresponding complaint was filed with the Constitutional Court.
At a press conference in Berlin, Chancellor Merkel sharply condemned both the demand of Turkish leaders in Germany and the form in which their protest was couched. 'The federal government does not receive ultimatums,' she said. And she called the past summit an 'important milestone in Germany's integration policy.' It is worth noting that the next summit is scheduled for fall 2008.