A government meeting on Friday
adopted a "citizenship package", a series of measures proposed
by the foreign ministry to reform citizenship legislation,
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
Tajani said Italy's 'ius sanguinis' (blood right) law will
remain and "many descendants of emigres will still be able to
obtain Italian citizenship, but precise limits will be set in
particular to avoid abuses or phenomena of 'commercialization of
Italian passports", he said.
"Citizenship must be a serious thing", said the foreign
minister.
The foreign ministry explained in a note that only someone who
has at least a parent or a grandparent who was born in Italy
will be automatically granted Italian citizenship, limiting the
right to obtain citizenship to two generations, under the
changes.
The note said that the main countries of Italian emigration have
recorded over the last few years a strong increase in successful
citizenship applications.
Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2024, citizens residing
abroad have increased from some 4.6 million to 6.4 million, up
40% in a decade, it said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
