In recent days, Italians have been voting on a significant referendum regarding the reduction of residency requirements for non-EU immigrants seeking citizenship, proposing to cut the duration from ten years to five. This issue has ignited a significant debate, exacerbated by misinformation related to the implications of the vote. Notably, Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, and others have contended that Italy leads Europe in the approval of citizenship applications, arguing that the proposed changes would indiscriminately extend citizenship to numerous individuals. These claims, however, don’t align with actual statistics, prompting important discussions about citizenship policies.
Examining recent data from Eurostat reveals that Italy does not grant the most citizenship applications in the EU. In 2023, Spain topped the list, granting over 240,000 citizenships, which accounted for approximately 22.9% of the total EU citizenships issued. Italy followed closely with around 214,000, while Germany, France, and Sweden constituted the subsequent positions in this ranking. Notably, the UK issued about 202,000 citizenships, indicating a competitive landscape among European nations regarding naturalization processes. This data challenges the narrative pushed by some political figures suggesting that Italy is the front-runner in granting citizenship.
When citizenship approvals are analyzed in relation to population size, the picture changes significantly. Luxembourg holds the highest citizenship grants per capita in the EU, followed by Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Italy. In 2023, Italy granted 3.6 citizenships per thousand residents, showcasing a relative restraint in contrast to other nations. Conversely, countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Lithuania lag, issuing fewer than 0.5 citizenships per 1,000 inhabitants. These statistics raise questions about the equitable treatment of non-EU immigrants and the broader implications of citizenship policies in Italy.
The naturalization rate, calculated by comparing the total number of citizenships granted to the non-national resident population, places Italy on a slightly higher footing. In 2023, Italy registered a naturalization rate of 4.1, while Sweden and Romania had higher rates. Overall, while it’s true that Italy ranks high in absolute numbers of citizenships granted, persistent barriers remain, evident in the ten-year residency requirement, one of the most stringent in Europe.
Despite ongoing discussions about relaxing these requirements, some European nations are tightening their policies. For instance, the UK plans to extend the residency period for citizenship applications from five to ten years, barring certain exemptions for significant contributions to the economy or society. Moreover, Belgium has introduced a sharp increase in application costs, raising it from €150 to €1,000. This trend of tightening citizenship requirements elsewhere underscores the complexity of the immigration debate throughout Europe and the challenges faced by non-EU residents.
As the referendum results unfold, it is evident that the discourse surrounding citizenship in Italy is deeply intertwined with broader societal attitudes towards immigration. The proposed changes could potentially alter the landscape for millions of non-EU immigrants aspiring to integrate into Italian society. Ultimately, Italy’s stance on citizenship remains a pivotal issue, reflective of national identity, economic factors, and evolving political climates across Europe.
