Minister of State Natalie Pawlik

As the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, I have a clear mandate: to actively foster integration in Germany. After all, integration does not happen automatically: it requires clear expectations, concrete opportunities and commitment on the part of everyone involved. It is not only immigrants who need to act; all of Germany´s roughly 84 million people bear a responsibility for ensuring that we live together harmoniously.

For me, integration means above all: Anyone living in Germany should be able to speak German, work, and take part in social life. This is not merely a wish, but a fundamental prerequisite for a functioning community. That is why I focus on language acquisition and language support from day one. I am working to ensure that people find work quickly and that foreign qualifications are recognised with less red tape. Women with a migrant background, in particular, must finally be able to participate in the labour market on an equal footing. Anyone who wants to work and is able to do so should not be held back by bureaucratic hurdles.

Education is the key to successful integration. All children must have access to daycare and schools from day one, regardless of where their parents come from. A society that offers children different opportunities based on their parents’ background is squandering its own future.

Integration happens where people live: in cities and towns, in schools and clubs, at work, and in neighbourhoods. That is why I am working to bolster local structures and the involvement of local organisations and initiatives. After all, successful integration is not simply a matter of goodwill. It requires reliable structures, resources and political support.

I am also the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism. In this role, I am committed to ensuring that racism is combated effectively in Germany. I support those affected by racism and my work promotes a society in which diversity is seen as an opportunity, structural barriers are broken down and social cohesion is increased.