Estonia: Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act passed the first reading in the Riigikogu

NordenBladet — The Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (58 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. The aim of the Bill is to ensure the possibility to acquire Estonian citizenship under a simplified procedure to minors who were born in Estonia and whose parents (or grandparents) have resided in Estonia before the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia. The Minister of the Interior Mart Helme presented the Bill.

The Bill provides that a minor who is born in Estonia or who immediately after birth settles permanently in Estonia with a parent or parents who are permanent residents of Estonia, and who holds a long-term residence permit or the right of permanent residence, and one of whose parents is not recognised as its citizen by any state under legislation in force, and whose other parent is a national of another country, will acquire Estonian citizenship at the request of his or her legal representative if a parent or a grandparent of the minor was a resident of Estonia as at 20 August 1991.

The Bill sets a requirement that, with regard to such person of another nationality, the Resolution of the Government of the Republic on the granting of Estonian citizenship will enter into force as of the day following the day on which the certificate to the effect that the person has been released from the citizenship of the other state is submitted to the governmental authority authorised by the Government of the Republic.

During the debate, Jevgeni Ossinovski (Social Democratic Party), Taavi Rõivas (Reform Party) and Andrei Korobeinik (Centre Party) took the floor. They discussed various aspects related to the granting of Estonian citizenship, and dual citizenship.

The Minister of the Interior Mart Helme also took part in the debate.

The Reform Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 30 members of the Riigikogu in favour, 53 against. The Bill remained in the legislative proceedings.

Source: Parliament of Estonia