WRITTEN QUESTION E-1423/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Immigration and integration

It was recently reported that the German Government has drafted a law designed to introduce courses in German and make them compulsory for people from outside the Community. The law apparently makes provision for sanctions if people fail to learn the language. In the most serious cases the sanctions may entail deportation.

Once again an EU country has acted independently from the other Member States in the field of immigration, demonstrating that we are still far from having a joint policy for tackling the real implications of the issue.

1. Has the Commission examined the German draft law to assess whether it is compatible with European legislation on immigration?

2. Does it have plans to take action aimed at treating the phenomenon as a European one and introducing a unified policy for dealing with it, determining precisely the cases in which expulsion is necessary?

3. Does it not consider that the German approach, with the appropriate adjustments, is likely to integrate those non-Community citizens who decide to live in Europe and could enrich the Union if they were not forced to live on the margins of society?

4. Does it not consider it appropriate to introduce a policy of allocating residence permits which depends not only on the behaviour of immigrants but also on whether they actually learn the language of the host country?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

With respect to the Commission's proposals for a new and comprehensive approach to the management of migration flows and in particular for a common policy on immigration, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's reply to Written Question E-1273/01 by Mr Hernández Mollar(1).

The Commission is aware that the German government is currently re-examining its immigration laws and informal discussions have taken place with representatives of the Federal Republic, as with all Member States, with respect to the draft directive on admission of third country nationals for employment(2). The Commission cannot, however, comment on the provisions of the draft German law referred to by the Honourable Member.

With respect to the integration of migrants, the common legal framework is expected to concern inter alia the rights to be granted to migrants admitted and other matters which must be notified to the Commission. It is intended that an open method of coordination for the Community immigration policy(3) will provide a mechanism for the evaluation of best practice and the gradual establishment of common norms and standards in the area of integration, as in other aspects of immigration policy.

While knowledge of the language of the country of residence is clearly an important element in the successful integration of third country nationals, the responsibility for integration policy lies with the Member State, since it must reflect the particular national situation.

(1) See page 108.

(2) Proposal for a directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and self-employment economic activities COM(2001) 386 of 12 July 2001.

(3) Communication from the Commission on an open method of coordination for the Community immigration policy (COM(2001) 387 of 12 July 2001.