EU countries vary widely on naturalization and voting rights for immigrants, highlighting democratic challenges.
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Only nearly a million people obtained citizenship in a European Union country in 2022, with three-quarters of all naturalizations occurring in five nations: Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Sweden. The topic of “new citizens” is prominent in EU elections due to increasing desire for better living conditions, alongside debates about their right to vote. Misinformation circulates in Poland and other EU countries claiming foreigners can vote, which is not the case, though some nations are tightening regulations. Austria presents a notable example where 1.5 million citizens were unable to vote in recent elections due to strict citizenship laws; experts warn this could hinder democracy as a quarter of the population may lack voting rights by 2040 if current rules persist. Austria is cited as one of Europe’s most restrictive countries regarding citizenship, employing principles like descent and requiring a ten-year residency period, unlike many EU nations that require five years. In Vienna specifically, projections suggest up to 40% of residents may lack democratic voting rights in sixteen years under current trends. Voting requires citizenship; while EU citizens can vote locally, non-EU citizens must meet specific criteria like residency and declarations of adherence to constitutional principles. Belgium offers three paths to citizenship: naturalization (based on merit), attribution (for children), or acquisition, which involves residency, language skills, and demonstrating social integration. Some political factions have proposed stricter requirements for Belgian citizenship, such as a registration fee, while the Federal Office for Foreigners has issued requests to municipalities regarding the revocation of citizenship for children born to Palestinian parents. In Spain, citizens can vote in local and European elections, but not national or regional ones unless reciprocal agreements exist; non-EU foreigners must meet residency and age requirements to register. While Italy is easing its restrictive policies, France maintains some of Europe’s strictest immigration laws, including removing automatic citizenship for children born there if parents are foreign nationals. Poland requires three years of legal residence, a regular income, and knowledge of the Polish language for naturalization, which is considered relatively lenient compared to other EU countries, although only 212 foreigners received citizenship in 2023. In Poland, while immigrants form a large portion of the population, there are no major immigrant groups pushing political change; a symbolic vote was held where non-voting immigrants participated.
