Germany - 2011
Are migrants' representatives engaged in any formal consultation with public authorities?
- Code:
- RED99
- Key Area:
- Political & Civic Participation
- Strand(s):
- Equality
Short Answer |
Yes. |
Qualitative Info |
Foreigners as well as sometimes Germans with a migration background have the right to vote and stand as candidates in local elections of Integration or Foreigners’ (Advisory) Councils (Integrations-/Ausländerbeirat). In around 400 German cities, these councils have been established with their legal basis varying from Land to Land and even between municipalities. Their aim is to give migrants a voice in local politics. However, these councils solely have advisory powers and cannot make binding decisions. Next to the integration (advisory) councils, Integration Committees (Integrationsausschuss) also exist in some municipalities, being comprised of migrant representatives as well as elected council members. In NRW, the state introduced provisions for Integration Councils (Integrationsrat) to be established in municipalities with more than 5,000 non-German residents. These consist of elected migrant representatives and additional members of the city council. Alternatively, Integration Committees can be set up instead which have to consist of more city council members than other members due to reasons of democratic legitimacy. The reason these changes have been made in the institutional format of the Integration Committees and Councils is to bring migrants closer to the decision-making council, thus enhancing their political say.
Source:
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Groups affected/interested | Migrants |
Type (R/D) | |
Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Political discourse -parties - orgs, Political participation, Integration - social cohesion |
External Url | |
Situation(s) |
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