A new Flash Report prepared by the European Social policy Network (ESPN) has just become available and provides information on recent debates in Italy regarding citizenship and migration legislation.

Between 2014 and 2015, Italy updated its legislation in accordance with the EU Directives on international protection: applicants for international protection are now divided into

• refugees
• beneficiaries of subsidiary protection (i.e. third-country nationals or stateless persons who do not qualify as refugees but who would face a real risk of suffering serious harm if they returned to their country of origin or former habitual residence).

These reforms have brought about substantial improvements for both groups, such as

• extended residence permits,
• new rights for family reunification,
• reduced time for access to employment
• better access to social assistance, housing, educational and healthcare services.

More comprehensive strategy?

Although these reforms have been welcomed by major stakeholders, there is a call for a more comprehensive migration strategy to better tackle the difficult situation of refugees in particular, and negative demographic trends in Italy in general. Indeed, with Italy facing both a reduced net international migration (-9.4% between 2014 and 2015, Italian National Institute for Statistics) and a strongly negative demographic balance, experts have been underlining the need to revise citizenship legislation and make the acquisition of Italian citizenship easier.

In this regard, the Chamber of Deputies approved a reform bill in October 2015 which includes a moderate version of the jus soli (citizenship acquired after at least 5 years of permanent residence in Italy) and jus culturae (citizenship acquired after regularly attending educational or training courses for at least 5 years). The bill is currently being debated in the Senate.