Austria: German Courses & Values for Asylum Seekers Mandatory
- Teh Austrian government is set to implement notable integration reforms, including mandatory German language courses and classes on Austrian cultural values for certain asylum seekers.
- According to a spokesperson for Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm,attendance will be compulsory,and the government is exploring potential sanctions for those who do not participate. The reforms aim to...
- Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz,from the NGO Asylkoordination Österreich,offered a cautious welcome,noting the government's apparent shift away from excluding asylum seekers from integration measures. He described the change as "positive for...
Austria is poised to mandate German language courses and values training for asylum seekers, a key step towards integration, according to a recent government declaration. The initiative,targeting those with a high probability of acceptance,compels participation,with potential sanctions under consideration. This reflects a shift toward early-stage integration and improved labor market prospects. News Directory 3 reports that reforms include mandatory classes covering democracy, gender equality, and Austrian culture. While the conservative ÖVP pushes for penalties, legal hurdles remain, especially given previous EU rulings. The integration package focuses on streamlining refugees’ access to the labor market through enhanced collaboration between the Austrian Integration Fund and the Public Employment Service. Discover what’s next as the government negotiates the finer points of this complete integration package.
Austria to Mandate German and Values Courses for Asylum Seekers
Updated May 29, 2025
Teh Austrian government is set to implement notable integration reforms, including mandatory German language courses and classes on Austrian cultural values for certain asylum seekers. These “values” courses will cover topics such as democracy,gender equality,and Austrian culture.
According to a spokesperson for Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm,attendance will be compulsory,and the government is exploring potential sanctions for those who do not participate. The reforms aim to use the waiting period for asylum applications to begin integration work sooner.
Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz,from the NGO Asylkoordination Österreich,offered a cautious welcome,noting the government’s apparent shift away from excluding asylum seekers from integration measures. He described the change as “positive for now.” The new rules will apply to asylum seekers with an acceptance probability exceeding 75 percent.
The conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) has advocated for penalties, such as benefit reductions, for those who refuse to attend the courses. However, legal experts have cautioned that such measures might violate EU law. A 2025 ruling by the European court of Justice found that sanctions for failing to complete integration courses were incompatible with European law.
Another key component of the integration reform is enhanced cooperation between the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) and the Public Employment Service (AMS). This collaboration seeks to streamline refugees’ access to the labor market. Previously, tensions over data-sharing between the two institutions had slowed progress.
the planned integration package is viewed as the start of a longer-term reform effort. Plakolm’s spokesperson emphasized the importance of integration, stating that the upcoming Council of Ministers meeting would serve as the “starting signal,” with a task force expected to follow.
The government also intends to reform Austria’s marriage law. A proposed amendment would universally ban marriages under 18 and prohibit marriages between close relatives, aiming to prevent early and forced marriages, notably among young women.
What’s next
While the marriage law changes are expected to be decided quickly, the integration package will undergo a more extensive negotiation process with relevant stakeholders, focusing on German language, Austrian values, and labor market integration.