30 years of Erfurt Foreigners' Advisory Council: Strong voice for integration!

30 years of Erfurt Foreigners' Advisory Council: Strong voice for integration!

In Erfurt, the elections are just around the corner for the Foreigners' Advisory Council, an important body that has been advocating for the interests of foreign citizens for 30 years. This advisory board will be re-elected on June 16, 2025, and preparations are in full swing. The Erfurt Foreigners' Advisory Board has established itself not only as a mouthpiece for the approximately 8.7 million people without German citizenship in Germany, but also as a pioneer with regard to the political participation of migrants. The city of Erfurt was the first in the new federal states to establish such an advisory board - a symbol of equal treatment and integration in society.

All foreigners who live in Erfurt and are at least 16 years old are eligible to vote. The older ones, aged 18 and over, can also run for the advisory board themselves, which further promotes participation. This makes the political voice of foreign citizens audible, a point that is becoming more important than ever in Germany's current political landscape. This participation is seen as essential for democracy, not least because many of the city council's decisions directly influence the reality of these people's lives. Particularly important here is participation in community decision-making, which is conducive to integration.

The Foreigners Advisory Board and its tasks

The Foreigners' Advisory Board is made up of people with a migration history, representatives of the city council factions and various clubs and associations that take care of integration work. The focus is on addressing the problems that foreign Erfurters face. Demands are formulated for the city council and the city administration. Every year a report on the situation of foreign citizens is handed over to the city leadership - an important step in drawing attention to grievances and initiating positive changes.

A striking example of the advisory board's activities are the projects and events that are carried out regularly. The exchange between different cultures is particularly encouraged during the Intercultural Weeks. The aim is to counteract racism and discrimination and to create a better understanding of the diverse realities of life in Erfurt.

Political participation at the local level

Although more than 82 million people live in Germany, around 10% of whom do not have German citizenship, formal political participation is severely restricted for many of them. Local voting rights are mostly reserved for German citizens. EU citizens have an advantage here because they are equal to German citizens in local elections and use their right to vote in around 10% of cases. But this option does not exist for third-country nationals – those who do not come from the EU – they can only take part in foreigners and integration advisory councils. A “democratic deficit” is often critically noted, as it also affects participation and co-determination in the political processes that influence the daily life of this population.

The activities of the foreigners' advisory councils are certainly valuable, but their options are often limited to advisory functions. Decision-making authority is an essential point that is often missing. Despite the existing challenges, there remains hope for an expansion of local voting rights for all migrants in order to ensure equal participation in society.

Helping to shape the political landscape is crucial, not only for the migrants themselves, but also for the entire society in Erfurt. This is where the future lies, and the Foreigners' Advisory Board is actively helping to shape it.

For more information, including voting modalities, the official website of the city of Erfurt is available: Erfurt.de, as well as on Migrant network Thuringia and the dossier on political participation bpb.de.