Governing conservatives in the German state Bavaria say immigrants should use the German language at home as well as in public. "People who want to remain here on a permanent basis should be encouraged to speak German in public and within the family," the Christian Social Union (CSU) was quoted as saying by state-run BBC on Monday. According to the CSU, a supporter of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the controversial concept is still under debate. Andreas Scheuer, the CSU general secretary, said Read more [...]

8 December 2014 Last updated at 19:17 GMT Refugees in Germany: language rights are a sensitive political issue Immigrants should speak German not only in public but also in the home, Bavaria's governing conservatives say - provoking a torrent of criticism. The Christian Social Union (CSU), an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, says it is a matter for debate, and is not yet official policy. Read more [...]

In the past two years, Germany has pledged to admit 30,000 Syrians on humanitarian grounds, a number that is higher than the quotas of the rest of Europe, Australia and Canada combined. Ariane Rummery, spokeswoman for UNHCR, described Germany’s humanitarian admission program as generous. She suggested such initiatives, in which legal pathways to Europe for refugees are created, could help address the rising death toll in the Mediterranean Sea’s human-trafficking routes. “Certainly Read more [...]

CSU general secretary Andreas Scheuer speaks at a press conference on December 8, 2014 in Munich, following a board meeting of the Bavarian party Christian Social Union (CSU). (SVEN HOPPE/AFP via Getty Images) Bavaria is renowned for its world-famous 'Oktoberfest' which attracts hundreds of thousands of foreigners each year. Last week, however, the Christian Social Union (CSU), which rules the state, made clear that only a certain type of foreigner is welcome to stay for longer: Those who speak Read more [...]