Temporary protection of refugees Maria Böhmer for extension of regulation

“We have to assume that immigrants in certain areas of the job market have great difficulties in finding work,” said Böhmer referring to the current economic crisis.

The previous coalition, the grand coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD had provided around 30,000 people not possessing a legal right to stay in the country with a new temporary but clear right of residence, provided they found employment. An extension beyond the end of 2009 is only possible under the current regulation with employment, otherwise the threat loomed for many of deportation or at best an uncertain tolerated residence status.

Böhmer was now confident that a solution could be reached “Everyone is aware in themselves that a new regulation has to stand by 1 January”, said Böhmer.

The Ministers of the Interior were discussing the subject at the moment. The coalition partners had agreed in their talks that a resolution had to be found in time.

That the coalition partners could not agree on an independent ministry for integration was not, according to Böhmer, disadvantageous.

“I have always pleaded for the strengthening of the task of integration. In which form that happens, is then a secondary question.”

After numerous considerations it was then decided that that the “cross-sectional task of integration” could be at present more justifiably dealt with by an integration commissioner in the Chancellor’s Office.