Germany is planning to introduce legislation which will require migrants to learn German or face deportation.

The planned legislation is being drawn up by German interior Minister Thomas de Maziere. He said: “ For those who refuse to learn German, for those who refuse to allow their relatives to integrate - for instance women or girls - for those who reject job offers: for them, there cannot be an unlimited settlement permit after three years."

The Interior Minister believes that there should be a link between successful integration and the permission to stay longer in Germany. He is supported by a large chunk of the general population, as well as other German lawmakers, including Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who said: "We must not only support integration but demand it."

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel first implemented an open door policy to refugees from Iraq and Syria, but has faced increasing backlash in the opinion polls, with many turning to the Alternative for Germany party following the Cologne sex attacks.

The legislation does not single out migrants who do not learn German. In essence, reading through what is set to be proposed, basically boils down to the fact that if migrants do not adopt a German way of life, then they will have to leave after their stipulated period of protection runs out. Put very simply, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

The UK  and France are two other countries that have seriously struggled to cope with the diversification of culture, with a previous – yet staggered and controlled migration from their former colonies. The inductions of hundreds of thousands of people from African, Asian and Caribbean nations took place over decades, and while there were success stories, there were also stories of ghettoisation, which has also led to some of the strife that we see today, ranging from rioting, to home grown terror. One of the very few successful integrations what the Sikh in the UK, who, because they were included, educated and nurtured, became one of the higher strata of British society.

The pattern today seems to have changed, though. Disenfranchised youths become radicalised and then travel on to countries that harbour Islamic State training camps, and they then return to cause havoc in Europe. But the theme is common. When migrants are disenfranchised, cannot speak the language, and are alien to European customs and norms, they feel out of the system.

And that is where the danger lies. People should be made part of the national identity. For this to happen though, laws must be accompanied by registration so people can be tracked and kept in the system. They should be provided with lessons in language, as well as cultural programmes. It is so easy to speak in absolute terms.

Malta is not alien to this phenomenon. We cannot afford to have subculture. Things have changed slightly. Malta has now become a place to be for migrants because they can find work here in construction. They sometimes enter legally and at other times illegally and they mingle with the local migrant population, some of whom have Maltese born children who are fluent in our mother tongue.

Malta will no doubt be taking in refugees under EU legislation at some point, given that migrant arrivals are due to increase next year. Perhaps Malta should also study this legislation and improve on it. Having a robust policy framework will help the authorities keep track of what is going on. But we also need to provide the structures to ensure that people who settle here become part of our society and part of our identity.  Hate breeds in dark alleys in drunken conversations. It can also breed in festering flats in Paris. It could also happen here. If we make a concerted effort to be inclusive – for those that truly want to be included – it will empower us as a nation.