Malta is to extend dual citizenship rights to second generation Maltese born outside Malta, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told Parliament yesterday.

He said in a statement to the House that the government would be moving important amendments to the Citizenship Act dealing mostly with persons born abroad to Maltese parents also born abroad.

To date, he explained, Maltese citizenship had been limited to Maltese born abroad when at least one of their parents was born in Malta.

This limitation would be lifted so that even second generation Maltese born abroad to Maltese parents also born abroad may acquire Maltese citizenship and a Maltese passport, if they apply.

This reform had long been requested by Maltese migrants and the government hoped to bring it about within a few months, Dr Borg said.

He pointed out that it had always been a Nationalist government which, since Independence, introduced reforms affecting citizenship.

Dual citizenship for Maltese migrants born in Malta who had given up their Maltese citizenship was introduced in 1989.

As a result of a second reform, in the year 2000, dual citizenship was no longer linked to emigration or birth in Malta and was extended to all Maltese who held Maltese citizenship at birth but lost it when they became the citizens of another country. As a result, Maltese migrants on turning 18 or 19 no longer faced the dilemma of having to decide whether or not to give up their Maltese citizenship to take that of another country. As a result of the latest reform, even their children would now have a right to Maltese citizenship.

Dr Borg said citizenship was also being extended to those born abroad before 1964 from a Maltese mother born in Malta and a foreign father. To date it was only those born abroad before 1964 to a Maltese father who could acquire citizenship, except where the person involved lived in Malta for five years.

Their children too, may acquire Maltese citizenship.

This anomaly had already been removed for those born after 1964, Dr Borg pointed out.

He said that thousands had benefited since the first reforms in 1989 and 2000 and the Citizenship Department had confirmed the right to dual citizenship to 12,250.

Concluding, Dr Borg said the amendments would also make it possible for the spouses of persons who gave exceptional service to Malta to be granted Maltese citizenship by order, without having to await the expiry of five years from their marriage and without having to reside in Malta for a particular period.

Dr Borg said he was sure these reforms would be welcomed by Maltese migrants who had also always continued to harbour a love for their country of origin.

The minister also thanked the Citizenship Department for its work.

Labour MP Noel Farrugia asked whether the government would tackle the situation of those born and resident in Malta to foreign parents and foreigners living and working in Malta for a period of time, say five years.

Mario Galea (PN) asked whether these new holders of dual citizenship would also become citizens of the EU. He said that now that more people of Maltese descent were being given the right to dual citizenship, had the time come to amend the law so that Maltese working abroad, such as missionaries, would not lose their rights as Maltese, including the right to vote?

Replying, Dr Borg said that since 1989 persons born in Malta to foreign parents did not automatically become Maltese. However there was a small number of people born before 1989 in Malta who were now considered Maltese. In terms of a policy decision, Maltese citizenship was being extended to their parents when they would have lived in Malta for 15 years.

Dr Borg said one could consider extending Maltese citizenship to foreigners living in Malta and giving a significant service to Malta after five years, without their waiting for some 20 years, but it was not right to grant citizenship to all those who worked here for five years. However all foreigners who worked legally in Malta for five years enjoyed five year residency permits.

Replying to the questions by Mr Galea Dr Borg said all those who acquired dual citizenship would become citizens of the EU and enjoy the rights of movement and working in the EU.

On voting rights, Dr Borg said regulations on residency should be retained but he felt that voting rights should be extended to Maltese working in the EU as Malta was now part of the EU.

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