"Integration and immigration are among the key issues of our time," Mohn said in her presentation speech. "Through her work, Rita Süssmuth has changed the views Germans have about immigration. She has tirelessly opposed every form of exclusion and discrimination. Courage, goodwill, tolerance and dedication are what have made her one of Germany's leading politicians and earned her considerable recognition even beyond our borders. The Bertelsmann Stiftung is also honoring her as a builder of bridges between political camps, between the political sphere, business community and civil society, as well as between religions."
In the mid-1990s, Süssmuth became the first leading politician from the CDU or CSU parties to declare that Germany should recognize its role as a destination country for immigrants. In 2000, the coalition government of the SPD and Green parties asked her to serve as chairwoman of Germany's Independent Commission on Immigration, which provided major impetus for reform and more favorable attitudes toward immigration.
Although the commission's proposals did not win direct political majorities, many of its recommendations were included in the 2005 immigration law. "It is largely due to Rita Süssmuth that Germany now considers itself a destination country for immigrants," said Aart De Geus, chairman and CEO of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. "Germany has become one of the most popular destination countries worldwide."
In awarding the prize, the Bertelsmann Stiftung is also recognizing Süssmuth's efforts on behalf of international migrants and their countries of origin. In 2005, she joined the Global Commission on International Migration, which was convened by Kofi Annan, then UN secretary-general and winner of the 2013 Reinhard Mohn Prize. "We must manage migration in a just manner and take the interests of all participants into account – those of the immigrants and those of the people in destination countries and countries of origin," said Jörg Dräger, member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board, in his remarks during the ceremony.
Dräger called for reconciling all of the relevant interests in a way that is fair, that adheres to the principles of the social market economy, Germany's postwar economic model, and that promotes prosperity and education around the globe. "What Germany needs is a new, more transparent immigration law. Such a law must make it clear that not only do we permit immigration, we actively promote it, along with social participation. For that to be the case, newcomers must be offered the prospect of permanent residency and rapid naturalization," Dräger said.
Süssmuth will use the prize money to support initiatives that help refugees enter vocational training programs and the job market. The initiatives include the Sprint mentoring project carried out by the nonprofit organization Diakonie in Süssmuth's hometown of Wuppertal; the Angekommen program for unaccompanied young refugees, organized by the city of Dortmund, North Rhine–Westphalia's Department of Education and the Walter Blüchert Foundation; the nonprofit organization Caritas Osnabrück, which helps refugees acquire vocational training; and the German branch of Save the Children, the largest independent children's rights organization, which provides assistance to young people from refugee families.
About the Reinhard Mohn Prize:
The Reinhard Mohn Prize is given in memory of the Bertelsmann Stiftung's founder, Reinhard Mohn. It is awarded annually to an internationally renowned individual who has played a key role in developing forward-looking solutions to social and political challenges. To award the prize, a global search is carried out to identify innovative approaches and exemplary solutions to challenges that are of critical importance to Germany’s future. This year's prize is dedicated to "A Fair Deal on Talent – Fostering Just Migration Governance," which was also the topic addressed at the international Reinhard Mohn Symposium held in May. The Bertelsmann Stiftung is using the 2015 prize to take an in-depth look at the question of how migration can be managed fairly, both in Germany and around the globe.
About the Bertelsmann Stiftung:
The Bertelsmann Stiftung is committed to ensuring that everyone in society is given a chance to participate. It executes projects in the areas of education, democracy, social affairs, health, culture and business. Through its civic engagement, it wants to encourage others to support their own communities as well. Founded by Reinhard Mohn in 1977 as a registered charity, the Bertelsmann Stiftung is majority shareholder of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. Structured as a private operating foundation, it is politically nonpartisan and works independently of Bertelsmann's corporate operations.