Scholz wants to make naturalization easier – head of economics praises plans: “Absolutely welcome”
Created: 11/29/2022, 10:22 am
The traffic light coalition wants to make naturalization easier and reform citizenship law.
The opposition warns, but business welcomes the idea.
Berlin - The government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to lower the hurdles for naturalization: Foreigners should get German citizenship faster and easier.
The chairwoman of the "Economic Wise Men", Monika Schnitzer, has now backed the reform plans.
Easier naturalization strengthens the integration of foreigners living and working in Germany and their children, she told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
"In view of the demographic change and the increasing shortage of skilled workers and workers, this is definitely to be welcomed."
Monika Schnitzer is Chairwoman of the Advisory Council for the Assessment of Overall Economic Development.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
German citizenship: SMEs are also in favor of the plans of the traffic light coalition
The Federal Association of Medium-Sized Businesses also endorsed the plans of the traffic light coalition: Lower bureaucratic hurdles in the naturalization of software engineers and nursing staff could prove to be an important locational advantage for Germany in the long term, said Federal Managing Director Markus Jerger of the editorial network Germany.
According to a draft by the Ministry of the Interior, in future it should be possible to obtain citizenship after five years of residence in Germany instead of the previous eight years.
In the case of "special integration achievements", this should be possible after three years.
This would be the case, for example, if immigrants show particular academic or professional achievements or volunteer work, or if they speak German particularly well.
Faster naturalizations: CDU warns of “serious mistake”
The Union strictly rejects the project: "The traffic light is making a serious mistake if it softens the criteria for obtaining citizenship," said CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja to the Funke newspapers.
"Nationality is not an item that is on sale on Black Friday." There are also reservations in parts of the FDP.
Selling German citizenship like rugs sends the wrong and dangerous signal, comments Georg Anastasiadis, editor-in-chief of the
Münchner Merkur newspaper
.
The FDP rightly protested against the plans.
(dpa/smu)
