migration
Ataman: There is a lot of catching up to do when it comes to citizenship law
The Federal Government’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ferda Ataman, criticizes the fact that those wishing to naturalize must prove that they have a secure means of subsistence under the plans. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
In principle, the anti-discrimination officer welcomes the planned reform. Naturalization is made “unnecessarily difficult” for people with disabilities, single parents and the elderly.
The anti-discrimination commissioner of the Federal Government, Ferda Ataman sees “a lot of catching up to do” in the planned reform of citizenship law. The cabinet wants to decide today on how to facilitate the German passport, after that it is the turn of the Bundestag.
Ataman criticized the fact that those wanting to be naturalized would have to prove that they could make a living under the plans. “People with disabilities, single parents and older people who receive subsistence benefits are often unable to meet the requirements for a secure livelihood,” she told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “The planned reform will make naturalization unnecessarily difficult for you.” Clear clarifications for cases of hardship are needed in the law so that discrimination is not encouraged.
German passport – with conditions
The federal government wants to introduce rules for faster naturalization today. The cabinet decides on a bill by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), which not only lowers requirements, but also allows multiple nationalities. Basically, migrants should get the German passport faster – but with conditions for economic and democratic integration.
Faeser described the draft law as a crucial key to Germany’s competitiveness. “We are in the middle of a global competition for the best minds,” said the editorial network Germany (RND). “But we will only attract the best minds if they can become a full part of our society in the foreseeable future.” Naturalization is expressly excluded for people who have committed crimes with anti-Semitic or racist motives.
For people who came to Germany as guest workers up to the 1970s or to the GDR as contract workers up to 1990, there should be lower language requirements. They should also not have to take a naturalization test. Ataman suggests in a statement for the interior committee, which is available to the dpa, that older people should be released from the formal language certificate, as this represents a high hurdle for many.
In principle, Ataman welcomed the fact that a reform is now coming. The possibility of retaining one’s former citizenship even after naturalization is particularly important, which was previously only possible for EU citizens.