Germany is home to some 15 million people with a migrant background. Integrating these individuals is the task of society as a whole. However, it is also clear that integration cannot be imposed from above. It can only happen with the co-operation of the immigrants themselves.
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In July 2006 the German Chancellor invited representatives of all social groups working on the issue of integration to take part in the first Integration Summit. Participants were assigned to working groups to discuss how to move forward with the integration of migrants. The underlying principle was to be that of providing support whilst requiring the migrants to do their part.
The German Chancellor presented the outcome of the Summit - the National Integration Plan - at the second Integration Summit in July 2007. In it the German Government, together with the federal Länder and local authorities, associations of migrants and numerous other non-government players, has adopted more than 400 measures and voluntary commitments relating to integration.
A progress report on the implementation of the National Integration Plan is to be drawn up in autumn 2008.