Rhineland-Palatinate starts new integration offensive with 1.5 million euros!

Rhineland-Palatinate starts new integration offensive with 1.5 million euros!

Integration policy in Rhineland-Palatinate is gaining momentum with a new strategy. Integration Minister Katharina Binz today presented the new direction, which emerged after one and a half years of intensive consultation and planning. She calls the strategy a “one-stop integration policy” and emphasizes how important a structured approach is to the integration of immigrants. A central component of this strategy are the so-called “integration managers”, who are to be hired in all 36 independent cities and districts. The aim of these new jobs is to actively support the integration of migrants and refugees.

As the South German newspaper reports, each full-time position for an integration manager is funded with up to 60,000 euros, with an additional 20,000 euros planned for material costs. The budget has already earmarked 1.5 million euros for these positions for the current year and 3 million euros for next year. Interested cities and municipalities can apply for the funds from the summer break.

Tasks of the integration manager

But what exactly do the integration managers actually do? Their main tasks are to support migrants in integrating into society. This includes arranging language courses, organizing living space, daycare and school places, and supporting integration into the labor market. Raising society's awareness of the needs of immigrants is also a central concern. This not only plays a role on an individual level, but also for social interaction as a whole. As an example, one could cite the support of families in finding accommodation, which is an important building block for integration.

Around 28% of the approximately 4 million citizens with a migration background live in Rhineland-Palatinate today. In recent years, new refugees have repeatedly been admitted to the country. Since the beginning of the year, around 2,600 asylum seekers have arrived here, and the number of refugees from Ukraine is growing to almost 4,000. Of course, this immigration also brings with it challenges, such as the 5,820 places currently available in reception centers, 55% of which are already occupied. Despite these efforts, there are voices from the municipal umbrella organizations that make it clear that the tasks of integration cannot be handled by integration managers alone. Financially weak municipalities need additional support to ensure effective integration.

Integration as a task for society as a whole

Integration is increasingly perceived as a challenge for society as a whole. This perspective is not new; There have been calls for active support for immigrants in Germany since the 1970s. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has played a central role since the issue was enshrined in the Immigration Act of 2005. A good example of successful integration policy is the increasing number of integration courses, which include both language and orientation courses and are supported by the authorities. Here it becomes clear that integration is not only demanded by the immigrants themselves, but that society also has a duty to enable equal opportunities and counteract discrimination.

In conclusion, it remains to be said that the new integration strategy in Rhineland-Palatinate is setting an example for better mastering the challenges of immigration. The decision to view integration as a mandatory municipal task could help in the future to offer even more migrants and refugees a home and an opportunity in society. And the Refugee Council should also be included in the planning to ensure that no voice goes unheard. Because integration arises through dialogue and cooperation between all those involved. Further information about the job of integration manager can be found at Job profile.