Reducing the time it takes to obtain Italian citizenship

Italy opens its doors to new citizens — reform of immigration legislation

In recent years, the issue of immigrants' integration into Italian society has become one of the most pressing and discussed. The current legislation, which requires a 10-year residence period to obtain citizenship, is considered by many to be too strict and outdated. According to the proposal of the +Europa party, the period of residence in Italy required for naturalization should be reduced from 10 to 5 years. This measure, according to its initiators, will speed up the process of immigrants' integration into Italian society, providing them with greater opportunities to participate in the country's public and political life.

The leader of the party, Riccardo Maggi, who came up with this initiative, said: «Our proposal is aimed at making the naturalization process simpler and more accessible for immigrants who have lived and worked in Italy for a long time. This will allow them to integrate into Italian society faster, participate in elections and fully realize themselves in the labor market.»

• The initiative has found broad support among Italian citizens. At present, the petition in its support has been signed by more than 500,000 people. Supporters of the reform point out that the current legislation creates significant barriers to the integration of immigrants and does not correspond to modern realities. Many people who have lived and worked in Italy for years are effectively deprived of the opportunity to fully participate in the life of society. However, the initiative also has opponents. Some politicians and public figures fear that simplifying the naturalization procedure could lead to an uncontrolled increase in the number of migrants and create an additional burden on the country's social systems.
• Regardless of the final decision, the very fact of a broad discussion of the topic of citizenship and the integration of immigrants in Italy indicates the readiness of society for a serious dialogue on the future of the country's migration policy. This discussion touches on such important aspects as national identity, economic development, social cohesion and human rights. Its outcome will largely determine how open and inclusive Italy will be in the coming years.
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• Obtaining citizenship in a shorter period of time will allow them to fully participate in the political life of the country, vote in elections and hold public office. In addition, the initiative provides for simplified acquisition of citizenship for children of immigrants who have lived in Italy for more than a year, provided that at least one of the parents has legal status in the country. This measure is intended to facilitate the integration process for the new generation born or raised in Italy.
• Obtaining citizenship opens up new prospects for immigrants in the labor market. They will be able to apply for a wider range of vacancies, including in the public sector, which will have a positive impact on their economic situation and standard of living. In addition, simplifying the naturalization procedure can help attract skilled labor from abroad, which in the long term can have a positive impact on the economic development of Italy.

The outcome of this initiative can have far-reaching consequences not only for Italy, but also for the entire European Union, where migration and integration issues remain among the most acute and controversial. If Italy chooses to liberalize its immigration laws, it could influence the pan-European policy in this area and become an example for other EU countries.

Legal aspects

In order for the proposed changes to come into force, they must undergo legal review and receive approval from the Supreme and Constitutional Courts of Italy. After that, a national referendum on this issue may be called. Lawyers and experts point out the need to carefully consider all aspects of the reform in order to avoid legal conflicts and ensure compliance with the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Thus, the proposal to shorten the period for obtaining citizenship for immigrants in Italy has caused a wide public outcry and debate. This initiative may open up new opportunities for the integration of immigrants, but it also carries certain risks and challenges.

The final decision will have far-reaching consequences not only for Italy, but for the entire European Union. Regardless of the outcome, the very fact that this issue is being discussed so seriously indicates the readiness of Italian society for an open dialogue about its future.