As Minister of State Annette Widmann-Mauz put it: "Integration isn’t just about learning a language. That’s only the first step. The commission’s role will be to set out the standards for successful integration. These include the availability of childcare, schools, housing, and access to jobs. But integration is also about political education, values, respect and rules, all of which allow for peaceful coexistence."

Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Hubertus Heil said: "Work plays a key role in integration. Most people from immigrant backgrounds want to find work so that they can take care of their families. And those who find work learn German faster and become active members of the community. We have come a long way on this challenging path, but we want to do even better – especially with a view to attracting skilled workers."

Dr Markus Kerber, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, said: "This is no longer just about refugees. We need to look at the bigger picture: at the living conditions in this country, at our society as a whole and its willingness to receive newcomers. And we need to look at all groups of immigrants, including those who have been here for decades or have come from other EU countries. This will be the task of the expert commission."

The members of the commission were proposed to the Federal Cabinet as a joint decision by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration.

The commission is made up of experts from both academic and practical backgrounds. It is chaired by Derya Çağlar, a member of the Berlin House of Representatives, and by Ashok Sridharan, who is mayor of the city of Bonn.

Derya Çağlar: "I am looking forward to being part of this commission and using my experience as a Berlin politician and member of parliament from the district of Neukölln. My own family background means I have a strong interest in finding solutions to migration issues. The expert members of the commission are sure to achieve good results and make practical proposals that are suitable for both towns and rural areas."

Ashok Sridharan: "At local government level, we know from experience how important integration issues are. From worries about housing, jobs, democracy and values, to the concerns of those who have been living here for longer, we must take all these issues seriously. And we must demonstrate the opportunities that are to be had in a globalized world."

The aim of this commission is to describe the conditions required for integration – in terms of the economy, the job market, society and demographics – and to propose standards that would improve those conditions.

To do this, the commission will look at structural issues like the provision of vital services, but also at sociocultural issues like the teaching of values.

The commission will focus on recent immigrants, such as refugees and EU citizens, and on people of immigrant backgrounds who have been living in Germany for longer periods. The commission will also look at the ability and willingness of German society as a whole to receive newcomers.

The commission will be independent and will work without a political agenda. It will seek dialogue with the public via consultations and expert discussions and it will use the expertise of local government associations, migrant organizations, charitable organizations, foundations, social partners, and federal states.

It will be able to make recommendations to federal ministries, federal states, local authorities, and civil society. These recommendations will aim to promote social cohesion on all sides and an acceptance of living in a society characterized by migration. They will also aim to ensure trust in the government.

The commission will submit a report on its short to medium-term recommendations in 2020. The Federal Government will then present the report to the German Bundestag.

Members of the Federal Government’s Expert Commission on the Framework Conditions for Integration

Chairpersons

• Derya Çağlar, member of the Berlin House of Representatives
• Ashok Sridharan, mayor of the city of Bonn

Members

• Prof. Dr. Petra Bendel
• Prof. Dr. Herbert Brücker
• Prof. Dr. Havva Engin
• Prof. Dr. Viola Georgi
• Prof. Barbara John
• Hacer Kirli
• Prof. Dr. Martin Kroh
• Dr. Thomas Liebig
• Stefan Löwl
• Dr. Bettina Reimann
• Prof. Dr. Oliver Razum
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Rödder
• Dr. Nina Rother / Dr. Susanne Worbs
• Anita Schneider
• Norbert Seitz
• Dr. Yasemin Shooman
• Prof. Dr. Petra Stanat
• Prof. Dr. Daniel Thym
• Prof. Dr. Annette Treibel-Illian
• Prof. Dr. Haci-Halil Uslucan
• Prof. Dr. Hans Vorländer
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Zick