German Cities Oppose Federal Cuts to Integration Course Funding

The proposed budget for 2025 slashes funding for integration courses by more than half, prompting criticism from city leaders and officials.

The German federal government plans to reduce funding for integration courses from 1.1 billion euros in 2024 to 500 million euros in 2025.
Markus Lewe, President of the German Association of Cities, has urged the government to reverse the cuts and increase funding instead.
Integration courses are considered essential for immigrants to learn the German language and culture, facilitating their entry into the workforce.
Critics argue that the cuts contradict efforts to attract foreign skilled workers, as successful integration is crucial for workforce participation.
Long waiting times for course enrollment are already an issue, and reduced funding could exacerbate these delays.