Recently, Italy has been considering reducing the residency requirement for non-European immigrants to obtain citizenship from ten to five years. Although some Italian politicians claim Italy leads the EU in granting citizenship, data shows Spain granted the most citizenships in 2023, accounting for 22.9% of all new citizenships in the EU. Italy ranked second, while Croatia is at the bottom with the fewest citizenships granted. When looking at citizenships granted per 1,000 residents, Luxembourg tops the list, with Croatia among the countries with the lowest rates. Eurostat also reports Sweden leads in naturalization rates relative to the number of non-citizens. Italy maintains strict citizenship rules requiring ten years of residence, whereas many countries require only five years. While Italy debates loosening its rules, the UK and Belgium are moving in the opposite direction by tightening requirements and increasing fees for citizenship applications.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the challenges immigrants face in obtaining citizenship, highlighting the strict residency requirements in countries like Italy and Croatia. They often advocate for more inclusive and humane immigration policies, supporting the reduction of residency periods and criticizing countries that tighten citizenship rules or increase fees, viewing these as barriers to integration and equality.
Center: Center-leaning sources present a balanced view, reporting the statistical data on citizenship grants across EU countries and the ongoing policy debates. They focus on the comparative analysis of different countries’ approaches, noting both liberalization efforts in some countries and tightening in others, without strong editorializing. The emphasis is on informing the public about the current state and trends in citizenship policies.
Right: Right-leaning media tend to stress the importance of maintaining strict citizenship requirements to protect national identity and social cohesion. They highlight countries like Italy and the UK enforcing longer residency periods and stricter criteria, framing these policies as necessary to ensure that new citizens contribute meaningfully to society. They may also support increased fees and tougher rules as deterrents to uncontrolled immigration.
