Schwerin says no to the migration advisory board – a step backwards for integration!

Schwerin says no to the migration advisory board – a step backwards for integration!

In Schwerin, the city council's decision not to introduce a migration and integration advisory board caused a great deal of excitement. On December 9, 2024, a majority of the AfD, CDU and other parties voted against the establishment of this advisory board, which affects the approximately 11,000 people with a migrant background in the city. This happened one day before International Human Rights Day, which, as already, fueled the discussion about integration policy eamv.de reported.

The new law on youth participation and integration of people with an immigrant background, which has been in force since April 2024, stipulates that larger municipalities like Schwerin should set up advisory boards. However, the decision against the advisory board was made based on various reasons, including the requirement that only German citizens should be on the advisory board. Critics fear that foregoing an advisory board represents a step backwards for integration; There is therefore no unhindered exchange between the migrant community and city politics. At the same time, other cities such as Rostock and Greifswald continue to set an example with migrant representation, while Schwerin is sticking to the development of integration policy or even falling behind ndr.de noted.

The central question remains how the voice of migrants will be dealt with in the city. Citizens like Serife Gedik, who have lived in Schwerin for years and want to actively contribute to society, continue to demand a mouthpiece for their concerns. Their hope is that not only will their opinions be heard, but also that they will be included in political decision-making. While Schwerin's mayor Rico Badenschier criticized the decision, he saw no legal reason to challenge the decision, which further increased the frustration among the advisory board's supporters.