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What does integration mean?


"Integration is a two-way street. Immigrants must adjust to their new societies -– and societies must adjust too. The word 'integrate' literally means 'to make whole'. That is the imperative for Europe today. Integration of the immigrants who have become permanent members of European societies is essential for their productivity and human dignity. The message is clear. Migrants need Europe. But Europe also needs migrants. A closed Europe would be a meaner, poorer, weaker, older Europe. An open Europe will be a fairer, richer, stronger, younger Europe -– provided you manage migration well. [-] Migrants are part of the solution, not part of the problem. They should not be made the scapegoats for a vast array of social ills." (Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, 29.04.2004)

"First we have to be clear on what we mean by immigration. There are three possibilities. Assimilation, where migrants abandon their own culture and become absorbed in the majority culture. Then there are 'parallel worlds', where two cultures can exist side by side without any problems but also without any mutual benefits. Neither is desirable. The only genuine integrative alternative is what I call 'interactive integration'. This means that the majority is open to and takes on the idiosyncrasies of the others. More precisely it means that sports clubs that want integration must also adjust their rules to the newcomers. That is very difficult and for this reason I believe we should not place too much of a burden on sport." (Gunter A. Pilz, Researcher of Conflict, 16.09.2004)

"First we have to be clear on what we mean by immigration. There are three possibilities. Assimilation, where migrants abandon their own culture and become absorbed in the majority culture. Then there are 'parallel worlds', where two cultures can exist side by side without any problems but also without any mutual benefits. Neither is desirable. The only genuine integrative alternative is what I call 'interactive integration'. This means that the majority is open to and takes on the idiosyncrasies of the others. More precisely it means that sports clubs that want integration must also adjust their rules to the newcomers. That is very difficult and for this reason I believe we should not place too much of a burden on sport." (Gunter A. Pilz, conflict researcher, 16.09.2004)