"Wirtschaftswise" boss for easier naturalization

The chairwoman of the "Wirtschaftswise men", Monika Schnitzer, has backed the reform of citizenship law planned by the federal government. Easier naturalization strengthens the integration of foreigners living and working in Germany and their children, said the chairwoman of the council of experts for the assessment of overall economic development to 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."

The Federal Association of Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMV) also endorsed the plans of the traffic light coalition. The reduction of 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.

The federal government wants to lower the legal hurdles for naturalization. According to a draft by the Ministry of the Interior, it should be possible to obtain citizenship after just five years of residence in Germany, as was previously the case after eight years. In the case of "special integration achievements", this should be possible after three years - for example if immigrants have shown special academic or professional achievements or voluntary commitment or if they have particularly good language skills. The Union rejects the project, and there are reservations in parts of the FDP.

"The traffic light is making a serious mistake if it softens the criteria for obtaining citizenship," CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja told the Funke newspapers. "Citizenship is not an item that is on sale on Black Friday." The domestic political spokesman for the Union faction, Alexander Throm (CDU), had previously criticized in the "Rheinische Post" that according to the traffic light plans, German citizenship should be "widespread be distributed without requiring that one's previous nationality be renounced". But anyone who wants a “commitment to Germany” must be able to expect such a decision.

FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Saai also expressed concerns. He told the "Rheinische Post": "Now is not the time to simplify citizenship law. So far there has been no progress whatsoever in repatriation and combating illegal migration.” The responsible departments did not even manage to appoint the special representative planned by the coalition. The traffic light should not take the second step before the first.