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The proposal to introduce English as the second administrative language was drawn up by Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP, pictured) and party Vice-President Johannes Vogel
Photo: IMAGO/Chris Emil Janssen / IMAGO/Chris Emil Janssen
The civil servants' association dbb has reacted negatively to a proposal by the FDP to establish English as the second administrative language in public authorities in the future.
"When it comes to ordinances and laws, the official language in this country applies for reasons of legal certainty, and that is German," spokeswoman Britta Ibald told the editorial network Germany (RND).
Communicating in English in the future would lead to more work than it would make things easier.
"The requirements for the necessary foreign language skills vary greatly depending on the discipline and region, so that the blanket introduction of English as the second 'official language' does not seem very effective in terms of the additional effort required," says Ibald.
"Rather, there is a risk that a considerable amount of bureaucracy will be created here."
When recruiting staff in the public sector, intercultural competence and, where necessary, multilingualism are already being used.
"But the dbb welcomes it in principle when the governing parties recognize the need to finally invest more in the training and further education of employees and the digitization of administration - keywords such as translation aids and programs," said Ibald.
FDP demands: Immigration for skilled workers must be made easier
In a position paper by the FDP on the challenges of immigration policy, which is available in the "Handelsblatt", it says that "English should be established alongside German as an additional administrative language in authorities in order to make administrative procedures easier." The Free Democrats also want German funding for Develop skilled workers and their families and facilitate the recognition of foreign educational and professional qualifications.
The reason for the advance of the FDP is the considerable shortage of skilled workers in Germany.
czl/RND
