Germany’s government has announced that it has eased immigration rules for Jews arriving from the former Soviet Union.
The new regulations will primarily impact Jews that are more than 60 years old and handicapped, in addition to disabled adults of any age. Those Jews will no longer need to partake in a projection of how they would adapt to German society, or an “Integrationsprognose.”
Additionally, rules regarding family reunification for Jewish spouses and parents will be eased.
Since 1990, more than 200,000 Jews have immigrated to Germany from the former Soviet Union.
“With the new rules for Jewish immigrants, the federal government has come to a socially responsible decision, fulfilling its historical responsibility,” said Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, in a statement on Wednesday. “For that, the Jewish community is very thankful.”