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Germany unveils new plan to become more immigrant and digital-friendly

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has called for a "national effort" to make the country more modern, efficient and desirable overall. Here’s what’s behind his so-called Germany-Pact unveiled in parliament on Wednesday.

Germany unveils new plan to become more immigrant and digital-friendly
Chancellor Scholz before the parliamentary session on Wednesday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Kay Nietfeld

In the Bundestag’s general debate on Wednesday, Scholz proposed a “Germany Pact” (Deutschland-Pakt) to modernise the country, which some have dubbed the “sick man of Europe” amid recent economic troubles.

 “Speed instead of standstill, action instead of sitting it out, cooperation instead of bickering. That is the order of the day,” Scholz said, wearing a black eye-patch which has sparked pirate memes over the past days. 

“Only together will we shake off the mildew of bureaucracy, risk aversion and despondency that has settled on our country over years and decades.”

On behalf of the Christian Democratic (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group, CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt accepted the chancellor’s offer. 

But he also called on Scholz to first ensure unity within Germany’s coalition government, the so-called traffic light coalition composed of the the centre-left SPD, Greens and liberal FDP. 

“First put an end to the squabbles in your own shop,” he said. “Then you can talk about whether you can cooperate with us.”

In recent weeks, the traffic light coalition had been caught up in massive disputes, especially over the implementation of a costly and controversial heating law (Heizungsgesetz) and the new basic child allowance (Kindergrundsicherung).

In surveys, more than two-thirds of Germans say they are now dissatisfied with the work of the coalition government.

But with the following proposed measures, Scholz wants to turn the tide, ideally allowing for faster implementation and less in-fighting.

He also said he hopes to make Germany a more attractive destination for those from abroad by minimising bureaucracy and speeding up immigration procedures.

READ ALSO: Could backlogs at Germany’s foreigners’ offices stifle skilled immigration?

Less effort for energy approvals: Up to now, the energy turnaround (Energiewende) has been hampered by the fact that in Germany many approvals have to be obtained from different authorities for new projects – for example, the construction of wind turbines. 

Scholz called for approvals to accelerated, building permits for more, much-needed housing are to be issued more easily, and masts for fast mobile internet be erected faster and more efficiently.

– Lower burden on companies: In order to ease the burden on companies during the transition to more sustainability, they are to be offered investment aid, among other financial relief measures, said Scholz. They should also receive better conditions for depreciation, so that they have to pay less tax. 

Scholz also called on Germany to cast more attention to the research and development of companies aimed at the future, such as those working with artificial intelligence. He called for the establishment of more high-tech production – such as computer chips – and start-ups.

Modern administration: Public authorities and offices would be further digitalised – by the end of 2024, important services such as applications for a new driving licence or identity card, or for parental allowance (Elterngeld) and citizens’ benefits (Bürgergeld), would be possible “end-to-end”, or fully, online according to the new plan.

READ ALSO: Is Germany a ‘failed state’ for public digital services?

– Recruiting more foreign workers: Scholz pointed out that 13 million workers would retire by the middle of the next decade. He appealed for the Skilled Workers Immigration Act – set to go into effect in March 2024 – be implemented right away so that skilled workers would not have to wait months for a visa or a work permit. 

For companies, the biggest factor of uncertainty is the shortage of labour, said Scholz.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Germany’s new skilled worker law to come into force ‘in March 2024’

Are these goals just being announced now?

The goals are not new. What is new, however, is that Scholz is now looking for a broad alliance to implement them. His offer was addressed to the16 state premieres, district councillors, and mayors throughout the country. 

It was also addressed to the “democratic opposition”, which Scholz used to refer to all opposition parties except the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

 In the Bundestag, these are the CDU and its Bavarian sister party CSU as well as Die Linke, or Left Party.

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GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

German conservatives vow to overturn dual citizenship if re-elected

Foreigners in Germany are waiting on tenterhooks for the introduction of the new dual nationality law on Thursday - but the centre-right CDU and CSU say they would overturn the reform if re-elected next year.

German conservatives vow to overturn dual citizenship if re-elected

“The CDU and CSU will reverse this unsuccessful reform,” Alexander Throm (CDU), spokesperson on domestic policy for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, told DPA on Tuesday.

“Dual citizenship must remain the exception and be limited to countries that share our values.”

Throm also criticised the new citizenship law for reducing the amount of time foreigners need to live in the country before naturalising as Germans, describing the new residence requirements as “far too short”.

“After five or even three years, it is not yet possible to determine with certainty whether integration has been successful in the long term,” he stated.

“The recent caliphate demonstrations and the rampant Islamist extremism, often by people with German passports, must be a wake-up call for us all.”

READ ALSO: Which foreign residents are likely to become German after citizenship law change?

Despite vociferous opposition, the alliance between the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party (CSU) was powerless to stop the traffic-light coalition’s citizenship reform passing in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat earlier this year. 

The reform, which permits the holding of multiple passports, lowers residence requirements and removes language hurdles for certain groups, is set to come into force on June 27th. 

But with the CDU and CSU emerging as clear winners in the recent EU parliamentary elections and regularly landing on 30 percent or above in the polls, it’s possible that the party could be on course to re-enter government next year. 

In this situation, the centre-right parties have pledged to try and undo what senior CDU politicians have described as a “dangerous” reform.

“It is not unusual for successive governments to reverse decisions made by the previous government,” Andrea Lindholz, the head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group said in a recent response to a question

“We will maintain our position on this and will continue to strive for a corresponding change.”

READ ALSO: What are citizenship offices around Germany doing to prepare for the new law?

Whether the CDU and CSU can secure enough votes at both state and federal elections to change the law in the future remains to be seen.

The parties may also have to compromise on their plans with any future coalition partner, such as the Greens, Social Democrats (SPD) or Free Democrats (FDP), all of whom support liberal immigration laws and the holding of multiple nationalities. 

‘Citizenship devaluation law’

The CDU and CSU parties, which form a centre-right alliance nicknamed the Union, have long been opposed to dual nationality in Germany.

During their years of governing in a so-called grand coalition with the centre-right Social Democrats (SPD), the parties had regularly made reforms of citizenship one of their red lines, citing the danger of hostile nations influencing Germany from within. 

In a recent parliamentary speech back in January, Throm had slammed the bill as a “citizenship devaluation law” and accused the government of trying to generate a new electorate to win votes.

CDU politician Alexander Throm speaks in a debate in the German Bundestag

CDU politician Alexander Throm speaks in a debate in the German Bundestag. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

In comments aimed primarily at Germany’s large Turkish diaspora, the CDU politician claimed that people who had lived in Germany for decades but not taken German citizenship had already chosen their old country over Germany.

The majority of Turks in Germany are also supporters of the authoritarian president Recep Erdogan, he argued.

Responding to the claims, FDP migration expert Ann-Veruschka Jurisch said the opposition was fuelling resentments against migrants by claiming the government was “squandering German citizenship”.

In fact, she argued, the reform has tightened up requirements by ensuring that people who claim benefits and cannot support themselves are unable to become German citizens.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Germany’s citizenship law reform

In addition, the B1 language requirements have only been softened in a few exceptional cases, for example to honour the lifetime achievements of the guest worker generation who had few opportunities when they arrived, Jurisch said. 

If foreigners have committed crimes, the authorities will be able to investigate whether these involved racist or anti-Semitic motives before citizenship is granted, she added. 

With reporting by DPA

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