Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani expressed satisfaction on Thursday after the
Senate approved a decree presented by his ministry reforming the
rules on obtaining Italian citizenship via ancestry.
The decree brings in the principle that Italian descendants born
abroad will only automatically be citizens for two generations -
so only those with at least one parent or grandparent born in
Italy will be citizens from birth.
The reform was approved by the Senate with 81 votes in favour
and 37 against and now passes the Lower House.
"The vote with which the Senate approved the 'citizenship
decree' is very important," said Tajani.
"This measure is intended to restore dignity and meaning to a
right that must be based on an authentic bond with Italy, not
only a bureaucratic one, but a cultural, civic and
identity-based one.
"Citizenship must be a serious and conscious recognition, which
is confirmed through commitment.
"This reform does not exclude, but it makes one take
responsibility.
"It proposes more selective, transparent criteria, capable of
strengthening the integrity of our system and preventing
abuses".
The minister says the move seeks to prevent the
'commercialisation' of Italian passports and free up resources
to make consular services more efficient.
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