Germany has unveiled a preliminary law aimed at simplifying the process of acquiring citizenship, reflecting its efforts to enhance migration and expand employment opportunities within Europe's largest economy.The Ministry of Interior's initiative is driven by Berlin's desire to allow individuals who have integrated into German society to actively participate in shaping the country's democracy. Interior Minister Ncaid emphasized the importance of this perspective, citing examples from countries such as Canada that highlight the necessity of attracting skilled workers needed by Germany.
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The proposed legislation introduces the option of multiple citizenship and reduces the required period of residency for naturalization to either five or three years, as opposed to the previous requirement of eight years.
In 2022, the German government agreed to reform its immigration laws to address the urgent need for non-European Union workers in various sectors, including gastronomy, childcare, IT, and renewable energies.
As of the end of 2021, Germany was home to approximately 72.4 million individuals with German citizenship and roughly 10.7 million with foreign citizenship. Among them, around 5.7 million had resided in Germany for a minimum of ten years.
However, the proposed bill has faced opposition from factions within the ruling coalition government and the conservative opposition party. Critics argue that the legislation may incentivize illegal migration while diminishing the motivation for migrants to fully integrate into German society.
According to the draft law, individuals seeking naturalization in Germany must demonstrate a commitment to the values of a free society, including the principles of dignity and equality for all. The legislation explicitly states that those who do not share or act against these values will not be eligible for German citizenship.