Overview of integration concepts and regulations at national and city level

Berlin has a long-standing history of integration policy making. The first Commissioner for Foreigners and a cross-sectorial working unit was established as early as in 1981. The position and unit were set up in response to large numbers of family reunifications of so called “guest-workers”. The main aim in establishing this new position was to combat discrimination and provide social and emergency counselling for newcomers in the city. Public campaigning to communicate the added value to the citizens of Berlin was part of the tasks of the units and commissioners. They also established a platform to network the many different volunteer and social initiatives in the city. Berlin was the first among the Länder to introduce a position as such in the federal republic. In 2003, a new person took over the post, which was subsequently renamed the “Commissioner for Migration and Integration”. In 2005, Berlin introduced its first integration concept, which was revised in 2007 and finally led to the establishment of the Participation and Integration Law. The latter guides today’s integration principles of the Berlin Commissioner for Migration and Integration.