Europe’s Citizenship Agreement: A Little-Known Guide
here’s a summary of the key facts from the text, focusing on the European Convention on Nationality:
What is the European Convention on Nationality?
* It’s an international agreement signed in 1997 under the Council of Europe.
* It provides a framework for the acquisition, retention, loss, and recovery of nationality.
* It represents a shift from a previous convention (1963) that discouraged multiple nationality, recognizing that multiple nationality is increasingly common due to factors like migration, mixed marriages, and gender equality.
* It promotes a more neutral approach to multiple nationality and sets basic standards for nationality laws, especially for newer democracies in Eastern Europe.
Which countries signed it?
* 29 European countries have signed: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
* Though,8 countries (Croatia,France,Greece,italy,Latvia,Malta,Poland and Russia) have not ratified it,meaning it’s not legally binding for them.
Key Principles & Requirements:
* naturalization: Lawfully and habitually resident persons should have the opportunity to naturalize, with residence requirements not exceeding 10 years, reasonable processing times and fees, and avenues for review.
* Non-Discrimination: Citizenship rules must not discriminate based on sex, religion, race, color, or national/ethnic origin.
* Family: Countries should facilitate nationality acquisition for spouses and children of nationals, with easier procedures and requirements. Both parents should be able to transmit nationality to children.
* Children’s Rights: Children born to a national should automatically acquire citizenship.
Regarding the initial statement about German military service: the text does not contain any information about the German parliament’s decision on military service. It is indeed only provided as the initial context.