Integration in Germany will take time

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière on Wednesday presented the government's new integration programme. But integration cannot be imposed from above, the daily Der Standard writes: "The subject of integration will preoccupy the Germans for years to come. They are having fewer and fewer children and are dependent on immigration. For many years family reunification dominated the immigration process. Skilled workers were not a priority. Germany is paying the price for this now because as a country of engineers it suffers from a lack of skilled workers. This means politicians must make all the more effort to help immigrants. More teachers who are immigrants and Islam lessons at state schools are logical steps. But they are - unfortunately - not a solution that will resolve all the problems within a few months. Making up for the omissions of the past takes time. Integration is not something that can be commanded in a loud voice from above."

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