The new commissioner assured that he would continue the traditions of his predecessors in this important post: "We will accept all Germans with the status of late resettlers if they were brought up in the spirit of German culture, have sufficient knowledge of the German language, and consider themselves part of the German people." One of the most important tasks will be the social and professional integration of German resettlers and their families. Dr. Christoph Bergner considers himself a defender and representative of the interests of German resettlers and national minorities. Bergner came to this post just one year after the adoption of the new Immigration Act, which entered into force on January 1, 2005.
For German resettlers, the amendment of §27 of the Federal Law on Refugees and Expelled Persons (BVFG) became particularly important. Sections 4 and 7 newly regulate the status and procedure for applying for resettlement to the historical homeland – Germany. The mechanisms of integration, which are given paramount importance, are for the first time formulated in the law in an extensive form. To implement it in practice, new working structures have accordingly appeared and old ones have been reformed.
The situation is encouraging but not simple, and the main thing is to convey the content and possibilities of the law to every family. Moreover, it is known that it regulates the general situation, while life goes on, changes, and a human fate does not always coincide with the letter of the law. There are many such fates, and they will all become part of the new commissioner's work.
And what about the Germans in the republics of the former Soviet Union who have decided not to move to Germany? Christoph Bergner must also take care of them. "The German government," he stated, "will support them in social and financial matters as well, in order to raise their standard of living and help them in their economic and legal situation. It is very important that people can rely on this promise of the German government, because their plans for the future depend on it."