When Maria Böhmer introduced herself to her French counterpart, Azouz Begag, as Germany's Integration Commissioner, the man from Paris flinched. "We call it equal opportunities," he told the Chancellery Minister of State and thereby highlighted France's interpretation of integration that is rooted in the republican ideal of equality dating from the era of the Revolution. Böhmer used the experience in Munich on Sunday to illustrate the gulf that still exists within the EU when it comes to a common understanding of immigration and integration. However, the problems are similar: immigrants are flooding into the EU, they experience rejection, and they have difficulties integrating. Very often immigrant children fail to attain any qualifications at school and can't get a job. Moreover, Germany rejects immigration rules originating from Brussels and Böhmer also has her reservations. "We need communication about migration and exchange about integration," she says - that's all. The conservative CDU politician debated the subject of "Germany as a country of immigration" with migration experts and immigrants in the forum "Debate on Europe" held by the Allianz Cultural Foundation and supported by national daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Bavarian State Theater.

Europe is a powerless giant concerning this issue and the debate therefore focused on domestic policies and in that context on the question: What should the immigrants themselves do about their integration and what should the contribution of the state and the community be?

Author and pop singer Senait Mehari comes up with a surprise and some clear demands. A lot of immigrants deliberately keep to themselves and that's no good, asserts Mehari. "It's fatal and one-sided to say: Germans don't permit integration. We have to make a move as well," says Mehari, who originally came from Eritrea. She's in a position to boast about her own achievements. Not only does she speak perfect German, she's also been successful as an author of German books and songs.

However, with her emphasis on the responsibility of the individual she encounters some vehement opposition in Munich. Integration depends very much on how you're accepted, objects Lena Gorelik. She comes from abroad as well, from Saint Petersburg, and has become well known through her book My White Nights. Ethnologist Werner Schiffauer from the University of Frankfurt/Oder counters Mehari's view by saying that we shouldn't make the character of the immigrant responsible for the success or failure of integration. He continued by saying it was a fact that life was tougher for foreign school children because they experienced rejection and inequality.

Imam Benjamin Idriz from Penzberg is included to agree with Mehari up to a point. Foreigners need to start by taking a step in the right direction, he says, but "It's vital that the community accepts foreigners, and not just the state." Böhmer doesn't leave any doubts that the state is there to lend a helping hand. She talks about integration courses and mentors to ensure that migrant children are more successful in school. Nevertheless, Lena Gorelik is dubious as to whether German society as a whole really perceives Germany as an immigrant country. She comments that in Germany she's continually being asked whether she's German or Russian. That never happened to her on a reading tour in Canada.

ROLAND PREUß. All rights reserved: Süddeutsche Zeitung