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Immigrants’ Access to Citizenship – a Field Romania Has to Improve
Carmen Munteanu - Communications Coordinator
30 April 2013
According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index III report (MIPEX), Romania obtained 29 out of 100 points regarding access to citizenship, with respect to family reunion (65 points) or mobility on the labor market – 68 points. And if the country’s image is not enough to be revealing, then in the top 31 countries it is. Romania holds the 24th position regarding immigrants’ access to citizenship, with 29 points, being thus in the somewhat unfavorable category (21-40 points).
The E.U. average is 44 points, neither favorable, nor unfavorable (41-59), 14 countries meeting the above average score. Greece is the first state which surpassed the EU average, with 57 points, a much better score than in MIPEX II (18). „The new legislation regarding citizenship has significantly improved conditions for integration in Greece (+39) and Luxembourg (+32), but slightly undermined them in Great Britain (-16) and Slovakia (-12)”, according to MIPEX III.
The last three places were occupied by Latvia with 15 points, Estonia with 16 points and Lithuania with 20 points, being thus unfavorable (1-20). Portugal (82 points), Sweden (79 points) and Canada (74 points) take the first three positions. Only the first country reached the favorable score 80-100 – thus favorable, the others being somewhat favorable: 60-79.
Double citizenship and jus soli are becoming the norm for immigration countries, but this happens in an average favorability situation. A child born in Romania out of immigrant parents does not become a Romanian citizen, because jus soli does not apply in our country. A child who has at least a parent who is a Romanian citizen is granted citizenship no matter the country he was born in, unless the law in that country allows double citizenship, according to jus sanguinis – right of kinship. “But Romania still lacks some fundamental principles which are starting to become a norm in Europe: for instance double citizenship, jus soli, right to vote and equal access to education.” In this context, the increase in the number of conditions and the number of residency years are perceived as obstacles to integration and are indicators of a difficult integration.
As for the immigrants from Europe, the report shows that, in order to apply to obtain citizenship, they wait 7 years, because of requirements related to long-term residency.
Source: Migrant Integration Policy Index III - www.mipex.eu
The E.U. average is 44 points, neither favorable, nor unfavorable (41-59), 14 countries meeting the above average score. Greece is the first state which surpassed the EU average, with 57 points, a much better score than in MIPEX II (18). „The new legislation regarding citizenship has significantly improved conditions for integration in Greece (+39) and Luxembourg (+32), but slightly undermined them in Great Britain (-16) and Slovakia (-12)”, according to MIPEX III.
The last three places were occupied by Latvia with 15 points, Estonia with 16 points and Lithuania with 20 points, being thus unfavorable (1-20). Portugal (82 points), Sweden (79 points) and Canada (74 points) take the first three positions. Only the first country reached the favorable score 80-100 – thus favorable, the others being somewhat favorable: 60-79.
Double citizenship and jus soli are becoming the norm for immigration countries, but this happens in an average favorability situation. A child born in Romania out of immigrant parents does not become a Romanian citizen, because jus soli does not apply in our country. A child who has at least a parent who is a Romanian citizen is granted citizenship no matter the country he was born in, unless the law in that country allows double citizenship, according to jus sanguinis – right of kinship. “But Romania still lacks some fundamental principles which are starting to become a norm in Europe: for instance double citizenship, jus soli, right to vote and equal access to education.” In this context, the increase in the number of conditions and the number of residency years are perceived as obstacles to integration and are indicators of a difficult integration.
As for the immigrants from Europe, the report shows that, in order to apply to obtain citizenship, they wait 7 years, because of requirements related to long-term residency.
Source: Migrant Integration Policy Index III - www.mipex.eu
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