Austria’s Federal Constitutional Service has ruled that a planned “integration phase” linked to social assistance payments cannot be limited to asylum seekers and people with subsidiary protection status, but must also apply to Austrians.
The interpretation has divided the ruling coalition, with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) embracing the view while the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) and liberal NEOS sharply rejected it.
As reported by Exxpress, the proposal, originally intended only for newcomers, would require all employable people to complete up to three years of German-language and values courses before receiving full social assistance. Until then, they would receive only a reduced “integration allowance.”
The Ministry of Social Affairs, led by SPÖ minister Korinna Schumann, had already reached the same conclusion two weeks ago, citing equality principles. “For reasons of equal treatment, the integration phase could not apply only to immigrants,” her office said.
The Constitutional Service’s written opinion reinforced that stance, warning that tying integration obligations solely to immigration status could breach constitutional protections. “The blanket link to protection status should not constitute an objective distinguishing feature that can justify the granting of a lower security deposit,” the statement said.
ÖVP Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm ridiculed the idea of subjecting Austrians to German and values courses. She said, “There will certainly be no integration phase for Austrians. That is and remains absurd. The mere idea that Austrian citizens should attend German and values courses is self-defeating.” Plakolm argued that upcoming EU regulations will allow targeted integration requirements for migrants starting in 2026, making the SPÖ’s interpretation unnecessary.
The NEOS found itself aligned with the ÖVP, with parliamentary group leader Yannick Shetty also denouncing the proposal earlier this month.
The Constitutional Service stressed that any integration phase must be proportionate and not automatically run for the full three years. Criteria should be realistic, it said, noting that many jobs do not demand advanced German or formal training. The statement cited a 2019 ruling in which Austria’s Constitutional Court struck down parts of a previous social welfare reform, warning against repeating past mistakes.
Beyond integration, the Service also approved plans to offset family allowances against social assistance, provided dependents are adequately protected to avoid double benefits.
The reforms will be discussed with Austria’s federal states for the first time on Thursday. Because implementation falls to the individual states, political resistance there could determine the fate of the scheme.
The government aims to roll out the new social assistance framework in January 2027.
The post Austrians Could Be Forced to Undertake Migrant Integration and Language Courses to Receive Full Benefits appeared first on American Renaissance.
American Renaissance
