Citizenship law changes to stop abuses says Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 28 - A government meeting on Friday adopted a "citizenship package", a series of measures proposed by the foreign ministry to reform citizenship legislation, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
    Tajani said Italy's 'ius sanguinis' (blood right) law will remain and "many descendants of emigres will still be able to obtain Italian citizenship, but precise limits will be set in particular to avoid abuses or phenomena of 'commercialization of Italian passports", he said.
    "Citizenship must be a serious thing", said the foreign minister.
    The foreign ministry explained in a note that only someone who has at least a parent or a grandparent who was born in Italy will be automatically granted Italian citizenship, limiting the right to obtain citizenship to two generations, under the changes.
    The note said that the main countries of Italian emigration have recorded over the last few years a strong increase in successful citizenship applications.
    Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2024, citizens residing abroad have increased from some 4.6 million to 6.4 million, up 40% in a decade, it said. (ANSA).