Germany: federal support for integration, recommendations on integration policy and research into migrant entrepreneurship

Government Commissioner for Integration now under Ministry of Social Affairs

The responsibility for migration, refugees, and integration will no longer fall under the Federal Chancellery. Instead, it will now be part of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. This change, formalised through a government organisational decree following the first cabinet meeting of the new administration, also includes the newly established role of Commissioner for Anti-Racism. The decision marks a shift in the institutional placement of key integration-related responsibilities.

BAMF: 20 years of nationwide integration support

For the last 20 years, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has played a central role in promoting the linguistic and social integration of immigrants in Germany. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary in this role, BAMF published an overview of major milestones that have shaped federal integration policy over the years. The document demonstrates how BAMF has continuously expanded and adapted its services to meet changing social needs and target groups over time, and that language instruction, counseling, and participation remain core pillars of Germany’s federally organised integration efforts.

Recommendations for a balanced migration and integration policy

The Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) in Germany published recommendations for the new legislative period. The recommendations emphasise the need for an effective migration and integration policy that attracts skilled workers from abroad. They also advise strengthening the integration and social participation of migrants through investments in housing, childcare, and education. Additionally, the SVR calls for decisive action against violence, extremism, and discrimination and notes that investment in infrastructure and procedural improvements will serve to ease social tensions and render Germany more attractive to the skilled workforce it seeks.

Report shows long-term fiscal benefits of migration

A new analysis by economic expert Prof. Martin Werding, Beitrag der Migration zum Staatshaushalt,shows how migration can significantly ease the burden on public finances in the long term. Commissioned by the Mediendienst Integration and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation, the study finds that sustained high net migration is a potential economic asset - for both society and the state - rather than a financial strain.

The report considers various population and economic development scenarios to estimate the “fiscal sustainability gap” - the projected shortfall between future public revenues and expenditures. It then assesses how different levels of migration impact this gap, finding that while migration does entail public expenditures - such as for integration - it also generates substantial revenue through taxes, consumption, and increased economic output.

Pathways to greater participation for young migrants

A new study by the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) investigates participation opportunities for 15- to 35-year-olds with a migration background in Germany. Using qualitative interviews, the study explores why young people with a migrant background can feel disengaged. Building on the findings of these interviews, SVR recommends political education starting in primary school, using such tools as simulations, field trips, and partnerships with extracurricular organisations. Civil society actors like migrant-led organisations can also play a vital role, it notes.

Survey among young people from Ukraine

More than 1 million people from Ukraine have sought protection in Germany since February 2022, including approximately 357 000 minors. A new supplementary survey from the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), conducted as part of BiB/FReDA survey project 'Ukrainian Refugees in Germany', asked young people aged 11 to 17 about their lives. The study provides key insights into these individuals’ sense of belonging at school, the leisure activities they partake in, their life satisfaction, and the plans they might have for staying in Germany.

Key findings include significant improvements in language skills among those surveyed, a strong link between time spent enrolled in German schools and feelings of belonging and stability, and higher life satisfaction among children than their parents. Just over a third of young people surveyed said they want to stay in Germany permanently, while this figure stood at 50% among adults.

Migrant Founders Monitor 2025 

The Migrant Founders Monitor 2025, recently published by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the German Startups Association, finds that startup founders with a migration background are strengthening Germany’s position as a hub for innovation in a lasting way.

According to the report, 14% of startup founders in Germany were born abroad. Among the founders of so-called ‘unicorns’ - companies valued at over one billion euros - this share rises to 23%. The success of these founders reflects their qualifications and entrepreneurial profiles: 91% hold a university degree, with 56% of these in STEM fields. When assessing Germany as a location for entrepreneurship, 80% of startup founders positively rate quality of life and levels of safety and stability in the country.