The new project of Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity entitled “Citizenship in practice”, implemented under the Active citizens fund program, in partnership with the Hellenic League for Human Rights started in April 2021 and will be completed in March 2023. The aim of the project is to improve the existing administrative practice related to the acquisition of citizenship. Specifically, it will identify the […]
The publication of the Ministry of Interior on the Government Gazette, published on 15/04/2021, sets out all the details of the examination procedure for the Certificate of Knowledge Adequacy for Naturalization (P.E.G.P.) which replaces the oral interview procedure that has been in force until now. For those who have decided to take the exams this year, they should be aware of the following in relation […]
On Thursday April 22nd, with a delay of 6 months after the adoption of Law 4735/2020 which changed the naturalization system, the very important Decision of the Ministry of Interior setting out the prerequisites for economic and social integration that applicants for Greek citizenship must meet through the naturalization process was published in the Government’s Gazette. This Decision establishes for the first time specific and […]
Tomorrow, Wednesday 14/04/2021, a draft law of the Ministry of the Interior entitled “System of Interior Control of the Public Sector, Integrity Adviser in public administration and other provisions for public administration and local government” is discussed and voted on in the plenary sessions of the Parliament. Within this draft law, which clearly provides administrative issues -and has no relevance or connection to the procedures […]
Since 20/03/2021, the Ministry of the Interior has put into operation the application platform for participation in the exams to obtain the Greek citizenship through the naturalization process. Those who will pass those tests (with a 70% correct answer rate) will receive the Certificate of Knowledge Adequacy for Naturalization (ΠΕΓΠ). According to the new law (Law 4735/2020). The Certificate of Knowledge Adequacy for Naturalization (ΠΕΓΠ) replaces […]
The General Secretariat for Citizenship on 18/03/2021 published a circular with new clarifications on how Directorates of Citizenship will accept expired residence permits and blue certificates that have been extended due to measures for the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the following apply: To file a new citizenship/naturalization application Those who have not been able to renew their resident permits or their blue certificates, which have been […]
On October 23, 2020, a Circular of the Ministry of Interior was published, regarding the naturalization and second generation citizenship procedures for those whose residence permits or blue certificates have been extended due to COVID-19. The possibility of submitting and issuing a decision for the above categories was frozen, creating a big issue in the last 4 months, which is corrected with this Circular. As […]
On October 12, 2020, the new law 4735/2020 of the Ministry of Interior was published in the Government Gazette, which contains among others, provisions for the amendment of the Greek Citizenship Code. The Ministry introduced this system of naturalization, expressing the need for transparency, speed and efficiency. But the final provisions actually pose serious obstacles and restrictions on the acquisition of Greek citizenship. Regarding the […]
Τhe Special Secretariat for Citizenship published statistics on the acquisition of Greek citizenship based on the procedure for the children of migrants as well as by naturalization. In particular, the pending requests per year and per corresponding service, as well as the specific batch of applications each Directorate or Department of Civil Status is currently processing are presented. Data on the number of decisions issued […]
The Civil Status Directorate of Athens (Ipatias 6) will not be open to the public for submitting applications for citizenship (Law.4332/2015) as well as for naturalization from Monday 17/12/2018 until Wednesday 9/1/2019. The Civil Status Directorate of Central and Western Attica (Favierou 58) will also not be open to the public for citizenship applications (Law.4332/2015) as well as naturalization applications from Monday 24/12/2018 until […]
On Wednesday 5/12, Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity participated in the meeting of the Permanent Special Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights on “Migrants – Second Generation”. Below you can read our entire speech. You can watch the video with the whole speech on Facebook or on YouTube. [Jackie Abhulimen] “Ladies and gentlemen, Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality and Diversity, is an […]
Based on data provided to us by the Ministry of Interior, Generation 2.0 RED presents the quantitative data on applications for Greek citizenship both by naturalization and under the law 4332/2015 (due to birth or school attendance) for the first half of 2018. The figures presented are on a nationwide level as well as the regional levels of Attica, Athens and Thessaloniki. Law 4332/2015 For […]
Generation 2.0 RED participated in this year’s Fundamental Rights Forum, organized by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in Vienna from the 25th to 27th of September. Being one of the EU’s decentralized agencies, FRA serves as a center of expertise mandated to deal with the full spectrum of fundamental rights. Over the course of the three days we joined over 650 participants hailing […]
In light of the recent call for applications of the Employment Organization of Greece’s program titled “Promoting employment through community-based programs, including training, in Municipalities, Regions and Social Welfare Centers” we would like to bring forth a chronic unacceptable discrimination against Greek citizens due to their national or ethnic origin. The program concerns 30,333 full-time appointments for Greek citizens in the country’s Municipalities, Regions and […]
Following Generation 2.0’s interventions to the relevant bodies, an amendment was accepted in parliament yesterday which extends the deadline for submission of applications for citizenship (based on the l. 4332/2015) for those that had completed the mandatory years of education before the 9/5/2015. The extension has been granted until 31/12/2018*. As we have mentioned before, see here, according to the law, specific deadlines to apply […]
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In July 2015 the much-debated law 4332 was voted in, giving the right to Greek citizenship to the children of migrants born and/or raised in Greece. Three years later, we are tasked with taking a retrospective look and evaluating the implementation of the law. The passing of the law did not signify an end to the fight, instead it signifies a new starting point. The […]
After our interventions via filing a report to the Greek Ombudsman, notices and letters, it appears that the social security rights of third-country nationals and their children will be upheld. An amendment tabled in Parliament on Friday and scheduled to be voted today includes a regulation equalizing the social security rights of the children of migrants with those of the children of Greek citizens. Based […]
On the 11th of April, PICUM (the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants) published the “Manual on regularizations for children, young people and families”. The Manual focuses on the importance of regularization, while also on the impact of good practices and successful campaigns. Children born in countries where they and their parents are not nationals or do not have a permanent residence status, face […]
Last week, the internet was flooded with duplications of an article published by capital.gr, leading up to the April 14th front page cover of Parapolitics. These articles, fueled with inaccuracies and leaps of logic, highlighted a supposed mass “Greekization” of migrants. It is common knowledge that in Greece every public debate on citizenship will trigger myths and will cultivate fear or hope, depending on how […]
Find out which categories of second generation have until the summer of 2018 to apply for citizenship As it is known, in 2015 the law 4332 (amending the Citizenship Code) was voted, giving the right to Greek citizenship to the children of migrants born and/or raised in Greece, in that way, restoring the social injustice caused by the decision 460 of the Council of State […]
Written by Nataliya R.* – Good morning, I’m here to sign up on the Population Register, I said proudly as if I came to receive a scholarship for the Oxford University. – When did the decision arrive? The voice behind the glass. – A week ago. My voice in front of the glass. – Oh, then no… you will come after 20 days in order […]
Generation 2.0 RED, based on data received from the Ministry of Interior, presents the figures for Greek citizenship as they were until the end of the second quarter of 2017, both at a Territory and Attica level. Applications From the beginning of the implementation of the law until the end of the 3rd trimester of 2017 (30/9), the applications for Greek citizenship based on Law […]
With the reform of Ius Soli still blocked in the Senate, the group Ïtalilani Senza Cittadinanza” started a petition to put pressure, asking for what should be obvious: to being recognised as Italian Citizens. More info on the struggle for the Ius Soli reform can be found here. Here follows the original text translated in English, with which they ask you to also sign the […]
Thousands of different stories and faces An infinite love for Italy One request: be recognised as Italians The reform asked by thousands of people living in Italy tries to change the law of 1992 concerning Italian citizenship. In fact, since 1992, to become Italian, a person born in Italy from foreign parents must be legally residing in Italy without interruption from his/her birth and can […]
Generation 2.0 RED, based on data collected by the Ministry of Interior, presents figures on Greek citizenship as they were up until the end of the second quarter of 2017 in Greece but also in Attica. Law 4332/2015 Applications From the begining of the implementation of the law until the end of the second quarter of 2017 (30/6), applications for Greek citizenship based on Law […]
On Thursday, March 23, Generation 2.0 RED held an informative event titled, “Residence Permits & Citizenship: Procedures & Developments”, a meeting between communities and representatives of the decentralized immigration and civil status directorate. The purpose of the event was to inform the public on the relevant procedures. It was also an opportunity to bring together members of different migrant communities in Athens. This consequently ensured […]
A year and a half after the implementation of the L.4332 regarding the second generation’s citizenship, what are the problems risen in the procedure? What could be improved? What should the applicants be careful of? What changes are about to occur regarding the residence permits’ procedures? What is going to change now that the permits for exceptional reasons are going to be issued by the […]
Last week, the law 4456/2017 was published in the Official Government’s Gazette. Three and a half months after the reformation that divided the Directorate of Citizenship from the Ministry of Immigration Policy, this law makes provision for covering the administrative gaps that had been created, and the delay which followed in the cases of citizenship. In a few words, this law states that: The Citizenship Directorate […]
Keeping in mind all the obstacles that have emerged during the implementation of the latest law on citizenship, the news regarding the number of positive citizenship decisions in Crete are really pleasant.Unavoidably, they are also alarming, given the fact that Crete is the exception and not the general rule. We are referring of course to the 3.500 applications that have been submitted last year alone […]
The Ministry of Education submitted a draft law regulating various issues, which are going to be discussed in the Parliament later this week. It is with great pleasure we find among others, the Article 7, in particular the paragraph 5 stating: In Paragraph 1, Article 1B of the Greek Citizenship Code (l. 3284/2004 -A217), as this article was inserted by the section 1A of the […]
Generation 2.0, knowing the concerns raised regarding the delay of the approvals for Greek citizenship, combined with the recent reformation and separation of the Citizenship Office from the Ministry of Immigration Policy, sought information from the Ministry of Interior about the future of the Citizenship Office. As a reminder, on the beginning of December we met with the General Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, who […]
Nowadays that the whole Greece is making 10 posts per day with Giannis Antetokounmpo #NBAvote and words like im/migrant, second generation and refugee are considered very trendy, we have to deal once more with the never ending issue of citizenship. On one hand, we have an article sweeping all over the media and is shared on the speed of light, the personal story of Mihalis, […]
Scene 1 – Take No345. The episode of Citizenship in the series “The cumbersome system of Greece” has been screened thousands of times in the Greek media, maybe even more than an episode of FRIENDS on national TV. Since it was still called Second Generation and functioning as an informal group, Generation 2.0 was trying to promote equality, respect for diversity and the access to […]
A brief reference to the issue of citizenship was made by the Minister of Migration Policy, Yannis Mouzalas, in an interview he gave to ANA-MPA. Once again it was all about vague statements, which remain unanswered and intensify the feeling of insecurity that prevails in the lives of at least 100,000 children who are still waiting to get the right they deserve. Specifically, when he […]
A great man and politician passed away at the age of 90, on Sunday, November 20th. Everyone talks about an exceptional and selfless personality who, even though coming from the conservative right party, he always stayed objective and never avoided to take responsibility of his own words. He fought in every chance he got the objective truth and reality, and that is why politicians praise […]
Yesterday, November 16th 2016, on his last transatlantic voyage as the President of the United States, Barak Obama was at the Cultural Center Stavros Niarchos Foundation giving a speech, which was applauded by all those who were present. In his speech he talked about all those things this small but great people gave over the centuries throughout mankind. He talked about the birth of Democracy, […]
The stormy history of migration policy in the Greek system seems to be a standard practice of errors and a sloppy approach, without an established common tactic and organization. When the asylum and reception services were established, went under the supervision of the Ministry of Citizen’s Protection instead of the Ministry of Interior, and they began their function after two years after, without adequate mechanisms […]
By Ganna Milenko A knock on the door of the classroom. The teachers stops the lesson. All eyes on the door that opens. The Vice Principal stands by the door with a A4 paper on hand. He apologizes to the teacher and takes a formal look. “The foreigners, please, stand and follow me”, he says with a loud and steady voice, as if we are […]
According to data given by the Office of the Secretary General of Migration Policy, quantitative data are presented about the approvals of the acquisition of Greek citizenship: a) under the law 3838/2010 (Ragousi Law) and b) under the law 4332/2015 (due to birth or school attendance) for Greece and Attica respectively. Under the law 3838/2010 (Ragousi Law) Concerning the requests during the former legal status, […]
On July 4th, 2016, the Ministry of Immigration made an announcement claiming that the procedure granting citizenship to the second generation according to the law 4332/15 is moving fast. According to the official data, the first year of its implementation, 27.720 children and young men and women were able to submit their application, out of which, 6.029 were processed. It is our duty to clarify […]
Generation 2.0 RED is systematically monitoring the new law on citizenship and the reasons for the delay of its implementation. On Monday, March 28th, we met the General Secretary of the Ministry of Immigrant Affairs, Vassilis Papadopoulos, to set the basic problems we have detected and are summarized as follows: Significant delay in issuing the criminal record from the Ministry of Justice (up to six […]
By Dora Vangi & Nikos Odubitan In July 2015, the Law 4332/15 was voted, amending the Citizenship Code, and coming to fill in the legal vacuum caused by the abolition of the law 3838/10, securing the right to Greek citizenship for the second generation, meaning children of migrants who were born and/or raised in Greece. Without a doubt, that was its goal. However, still today, […]
What changed in the Migration Code after the enactment of the Law 4332/15? To whom it can be applied and when? What are the cases covered by the new citizenship law? What are the main problems in its implementation? What is happening with the pending requests of the law 3838? The above mentioned, along with other important issues concerning the youngsters of migrant origins, were […]
The law 4332/15 was voted in July of 2015 and amends the citizenship Code, while giving the right to the acquisition of the Greek citizenship to immigrants’ offsprings who have attended Greek schools or were born in Greece. This Code is the result of a longterm campaign which first started on 2006, and resulted in the vote on L.3838 (aka Ragousis Law) on 2010. The […]
Your Vote Can Unite was a Paneuropean campaign to raise awareness to European voters regarding the rising danger of far right parties and politics after the European elections of 2014. Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity was the national coordinator of this campaign in Greece, which was really important, given the fact that a lot of our members did not have the right to vote. […]
On the occasion of the passing bill on Citizenship, on June 24, 2015, anti-racist organizations and migrant communities organized a concert under the slogan “We Celebrate – We Claim: Citizenship for All Kids!”. With the forthcoming, at the time, passing of the bill on Citizenship, tens of thousands of children were soon to be recognized as citizens of the country where they were born, raised […]
Ensuring that every child who was born and / or raised in Greece is considered a Greek Citizen is an ongoing goal for Generation 2.0 RED. Equal Citizens with access to the same rights and obligations, regardless of their parents’ origins. The amendment on Citizenship published Thursday, May 14th 2015, comes to fill the legal vacuum that has existed since February 2013, when the Council […]
The Antifascist Festival of Performing Arts was organized in 2013 for the very first time and it is an artists’ initiative with a strong desire to act against the fascist formations that threaten not only the Greek society but the whole Europe as well. Denying that art has nothing to do with the society that creates it, their goal is to create a platform for […]
By Andromachi Papaioannou In April 2013, the National Strategy for the integration of third-country citizens, which replaced the National Strategy of 2011, was published in the Ministry of Interior. Comparing the two strategies someone can easily understand the complete different perspective on the meaning of integration in an institutional level. “Integration is a dynamic, a two-way process of mutual adaptation of both immigrants and citizens […]
The Migration and Social Integration Code, which brings together the current existing legislation, will be submitted to the Parliament on the 11th of March. Although the above mentioned Code is an attempt to solve anachronistic issues faced by foreigners in Greece, there is an evident absence of any holistic approach or resolution of these issues. It introduces some innovations (gives access to the second generation […]
Following the fear-mongering statements by the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in his pre-election speeches in Evros (05/01/2015) and Chalkida (07/01/2015) against “smuggled migrants” and granting Greek citizenship, we have discovered that: He refuses to comprehend the difference between the term “refugee” and “immigrant”, while deliberately using the derogatory term “smuggled migrant” rather than the correct terms “irregular migrant” or “undocumented migrant”. At the same time, […]
By Nataliya R. I was born in 1987 in Symi, Ukraine, to my mother, who was a social historian and my father, who was a taxman. A few years later the Soviet Union collapsed. All the academics lost their jobs because they were supposedly undermining the new regime. So, in 1993, my mother took me and my brother and moved far away from an abusive […]
Another child of immigrant origins that has gone to Greek school and graduated Greek University but still has no access to the labor market in her studies sector, not because she does not have the necessary skills, but because she does not have the Greek citizenship. “I am Anna from Thessaloniki, I come from Albania and I have been living in Greece for 18 years […]
The Cosmo-Culture Cultural Organization and Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality and Diversity, in cooperation with the Europe Direct Information Centre of Athens organized an event for Europe Day on Friday, May 9, 2014 at “CAFÉ EU- TOPIA” on: “New Generation of European Citizens: Issues of European and Greek Citizenship” Program: Roundtable on “New Generation of European Citizens: Issues of European and Greek Citizenship”. Interactive debate […]
My name is Yohana Bryan, I am Assyrian and Ι was born on the 10th of August, 1984, in Tehran. My parents took the decision to leave the country since it was involved in a conflict with Iraq, plus the regime was theocratic (Islamic),thus opposing “infidels”. On the 11th of March 1987 we acquired the much-desired visa and came to Greece. I was two-and-a half […]
What does Greek citizenship mean to you? To be Greek? For me, to have a Greek citizenship means that my rights are recognized as a citizen of the Greek society, not only because I was born and I live here, but because I have the Greek education. What does the country of your parents mean to you? I consider the country of my parents as […]
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