Timelines

The federal government is planning a reform of the citizenship law, which is criticised by the nationwide alliance "Pass(t) uns allen" (Suits us all). Despite some positive aspects such as the introduction of multiple nationality and shortened waiting periods, the alliance fears that marginalised people will no longer be eligible for naturalisation if the law is passed. Unclear, tendentious formulations and additional examinations could cause longer waiting periods and wrong decisions, as well as lead to more institutional racism. Stateless persons and long-term tolerated persons will continue to be disregarded. "Pass(t) uns allen" demands the abolition of all naturalisation hurdles, citizenship at birth, regardless of the residence status of the parents and a right to vote for all. At the same time, the federal government plans to agree to a tightening of asylum law that would in effect nullify the right to asylum at the European level. According to PRO ASYL, this would essentially mean: protection seekers would be processed in camps at the EU borders under detention conditions in mass procedures, without a substantive examination of the reasons for flight. The procedure is mainly limited to whether an asylum application can be rejected as inadmissible, especially if the person seeking protection fled to the EU via a supposedly "safe" third country. In addition, the criteria for assessing a state as "safe" are to be lowered further. Many civil society organisations are calling for protests against the reform.