Latest news with #Non-EU
Local Italy
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Local Italy
Is this the end of the road for Italy's citizenship reform?
It was always a long shot. But many of The Local's readers had their fingers crossed that there might be a chance of a Yes vote in the closely-watched referendum this week on whether Italy should cut the wait for those applying for citizenship through residency. Non-EU nationals must live in Italy for 10 years before they can start the application process, and usually have to wait several more years for it to be processed. The waiting time to apply would have been reduced to five years under the referendum proposal, putting Italy in line with other major European countries including Germany and France. But, as expected, voter turnout was too low, which meant that the referendum result was declared invalid. There's a minimum threshold, or quorum, of 50 percent for the vote to count. Turnout was 30.6 percent, slightly lower than polls predicted. This is nothing unusual in an Italian referendum. Participation has been historically low and falling for decades. As the results came in, there were renewed calls for sweeping changes to the country's referendum laws. There have long been calls for lowering the quorum from 50 to 40 percent, or eliminating it altogether. But, without this threshold, how would the vote have gone? Of the votes cast this time, 65 percent were in favour of changing the law on citizenship. While high enough for a positive result, this was lower than the percentage who voted in favour of the other four referendum questions (on workers' rights), which was 87 to 89 percent, reflecting divided public opinion. The leftwing opposition parties who backed the referendum said that it had sparked public debate on an issue that no one had been talking about. They could, in theory, put similar proposals to parliament in future. However, they'd be unlikely to get far while the ruling coalition government enjoys a majority in both houses. The government is strongly opposed to easing citizenship rules in any way. Senior ministers made it clear ahead of the vote that they didn't want the quorum to be reached, urging voters to 'stay home' or 'go to the beach'. The failure of the referendum was widely reported as a victory for Meloni, who had appeared at a polling station on Sunday to announce to reporters that she would not be voting. Her government's stance shouldn't surprise anyone. In March it abruptly forced through changes to the law on eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent, applying a two-generational limit. Last year, it quashed proposals to extend citizenship to young people who complete their education in Italy. As long as Meloni's government remains in power, any changes that would make the lives of foreign nationals in Italy easier seem a remote possibility. The proposal to cut the waiting period from 10 years to five originally came from Italiani senza cittadinanza (Italians Without Citizenship), a grassroots movement highlighting obstacles faced by would-be applicants. They say they'll continue to campaign on the issue. For those who plan to apply for citizenship via residency in the next few years, the wait continues.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Italy votes on citizenship reforms that could open doors for immigrants
Italians headed to the polls on Sunday and Monday to vote in a national referendum that could make it easier for immigrants to apply for Italian citizenship. The proposal aims to cut the required residency period from 10 years to five. But the result depends not just on votes — it hinges on whether enough people show up to cast them, according to a report by The New York Times. For the referendum to be valid, over 50% of eligible voters must participate. A simple majority is then needed for the law to pass. With voter turnout in past referendums low, observers are unsure whether that threshold will be met. If approved, the change would allow nearly 1.5 million foreign residents to apply for citizenship, including about 300,000 minors. The proposal is opposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her right-wing coalition. Progressive parties are backing the change. As per the report by NYT, the referendum comes at a time when Italy, long a nation of emigrants, is now home to many immigrants from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. However, Italy still has one of the strictest citizenship laws in Europe . Non-EU immigrants can apply for citizenship only after 10 years of uninterrupted residency. Children born in Italy to immigrant parents must wait until they turn 18 and prove continuous residency from birth. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Supporters say the current law leaves many people living and working in Italy without full rights. 'They pay taxes, they abide by the laws, but they are not politically included,' said Maarten Vink, director at the Global Citizenship Observatory. 'In a democracy, that's not a good principle.' Live Events You Might Also Like: India & Italy agree to deepen ties in aerospace, agri, energy transition The referendum also highlights changing views in Italian society. Fioralba Duma, an activist from Albania who has lived in Italy most of her life but is not a citizen, told NYT, 'It's a pivotal moment for how Italy sees itself and how it wants to build its future.' Opponents of the measure argue it would make citizenship too easy to obtain. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called it 'dangerous' and said it would extend citizenship 'indiscriminately.' Low voter turnout could be the biggest hurdle. In 2022, only 20% of voters participated in another referendum. 'The citizens have stopped voting,' said Michele Ainis, a constitutional law professor at Roma Tre University. The vote also includes four other questions related to labour laws. However, many say public awareness of the referendum is low. Activists have accused Italy's public broadcaster, Rai, of providing limited coverage, though Rai claims it offered more coverage than for the 2022 vote. You Might Also Like: Mount Etna erupts: Is it safe to travel to Italy, and will airlines offer compensation for cancelled flights? Adding to the complexity, many immigrants and those with immigrant roots who support the change will not vote — because they are not yet citizens. Prime Minister Meloni has said she will go to the polls but will abstain from voting. Other politicians opposing the referendum have said they will not vote at all. Results are expected after polls close Monday afternoon. You Might Also Like: Mount Etna erupts: Tourists urged to heed safety warnings
Jordan News
7 days ago
- Business
- Jordan News
JD 2.849 Billion – Amman's Industrial Exports in First Five Months of 2025 - Jordan News
Amman Chamber of Industry exports continued their upward momentum in 2025, reflecting the resilience of Jordanian industry in overcoming challenges and expanding its presence in export markets. اضافة اعلان During the first five months of 2025, the Chamber's exports grew by 12.2% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching JD 2.849 billion, up from JD 2.540 billion. Sector Performance Most industrial sectors experienced export growth during this period, with the exception of: Wood, furniture: ↓ 14% Packaging, paper, office supplies: ↓ 9.2% On the other hand, exports of eight other sub-sectors increased, led by: Construction materials: ↑ 86.7% (highest) Engineering, electrical, IT: ↑ 0.5% (lowest) Top Export Destinations India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq accounted for over JD 1.635 billion, more than half of the total exports. India: ↑ 14.7% to JD 395 million Saudi Arabia: ↑ 7.2% to JD 352 million Iraq: ↑ 4.8% to JD 381 million United States: ↓ 5.1% to JD 507 million (still the top importer) Notably, exports to: Syria: ↑ 302.1% to JD 114 million (from JD 28 million in 2024) Palestine: ↑ 21% to JD 69 million Geographic Distribution Arab countries: JD 1.396 billion Non-Arab Asian countries: JD 566 million North America: JD 528 million European Union: JD 148 million Africa: JD 82 million Non-EU Europe: JD 79 million South America: JD 20 million Other countries: JD 27 million Sector Breakdown (First Five Months of 2025) Mining industries: JD 610 million Chemicals & cosmetics: JD 532 million Engineering, electrical & IT: JD 444 million Food, agriculture & livestock: JD 417 million Medical & healthcare: JD 273 million Textiles & leather: JD 247 million Plastics & rubber: JD 130 million Packaging & office supplies: JD 102 million Construction materials: JD 87 million Wood & furniture: JD 8 million Founded in 1962, the Amman Chamber of Industry currently includes 8,600 industrial establishments, employing around 159,000 workers, with total capital reaching JD 5 billion.
Local Spain
26-05-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
LISTED: The taxes Spain wants to introduce to fix the housing crisis
The draft bill registered at the Spanish Congress plans aimed at limiting the number of short-term tourist apartments in Spain, something many blame for rising rental costs, while ensuring the availability of public housing stock, incentivising lower rental prices and, most headline-grabbing of all, curbing home purchases by non-resident third-country nationals. In order to do this the Spanish government is further tinkering with tax rules to essentially double the price for non-EU, non-resident foreigners buying property in Spain. As reported by The Local last week, according to the legal text for the so-called "Complementary State Tax on the Transfer of Real Estate to Non-EU Residents", this tax "will be obtained by applying a 100% tax rate to the taxable base', which is the value of the property. The 100 percent tax has caught international media coverage, but the bill also includes several other policies and tax changes that the Spanish government hopes can help the property market. Tourist flat tax hike Among the proposed measures are an increase in VAT on holiday apartments to 21 percent, so that they are there taxed as any other economic activity. The idea is to try and make tourist rentals a less attractive option for landlords, who can currently make a lot more money than renting out to locals long term. Currently, landlords who rent out Airbnb-style properties that do not provide typical services similar to a hotel (cleaning, meals, laundry) are VAT exempt. Extension to IRPF rebates in 'non-stressed' areas Similarly, the extension of the net rental yield rebates for IRPF is included, which can reach 100 percent in areas that have not been declared 'stressed' rental markets. This deduction will be made available for owners who rent properties below the reference price on Spain's state rental index. Property investment companies taxed more The draft also proposes to tighten taxation on listed real estate investment companies (known as SOCIMIs in Spain), which would go from being taxed at 15 to 25 percent, except in the case of homes intended for rent at affordable prices. Updating capital gains tax The proposed law also includes an update to rates and quotas for the Increase in Urban Land Value tax (known as plusvalía) following a recent constitutional court ruling, though the details are still unclear. Penalising empty properties There are also a range of measures to penalise landlords who keep empty properties, especially if they hold large real estate portfolios. The government argues this is a way of encouraging them to rent them out to local people as taxes levied on empty properties will be increased. Rates currently range between 1.1 percent and 2 percent. For this reason, greater progressivity will be established by introducing more tax brackets, the percentage of which will be updated in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.
Local Spain
23-05-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Spain pushes forward with tax that will double property price for foreigners
On Thursday, Spain's PSOE-led government lodged a draft bill in the Spanish Congress aimed at addressing speculation in the housing market through a series of fiscal measures. This bill includes plans aimed at limiting the number of tourist apartments in Spain, ensuring the availability of public housing stock, incentivising lower rental prices and, most headline-grabbing of all, curbing home purchases by non-resident third-country nationals. What many thought could be political grandstanding when Pedro Sánchez first announced last January that his government would impose a 100 percent tax on non-EU non-resident property buyers in Spain now seems closer to reality, albeit a law that will still require parliamentary approval. According to the legal text for the so-called "Complementary State Tax on the Transfer of Real Estate to Non-EU Residents", this tax "will be obtained by applying a 100% tax rate to the taxable base', which is the value of the property in question. Therefore a 100 percent tax on a property worth €200,000 would mean non-EU non-resident buyers would have to pay €400,000 for it. "We're going to ban non-EU foreigners who don't live in our country from speculating with the housing our country's families need," Sánchez said back in January. The Spanish premier justified the proposal due to the apparently negative impact that wealthy non-resident buyers are having on prices and therefore the housing crisis, although official data has shown that the specifically targeted group - non-EU non-resident buyers - represent only between 1.6 and 3 percent of the total. Foreigners as a whole however do now account for nearly 1 in every 5 property purchases in Spain, but this includes residents and EU citizens. Spain's decision to limit foreign property ownership has made headlines around the world, especially in the United Kingdom, given that Britons are still the main foreign property buyers in Spain. Brexit has meant they no longer have EU citizenship, therefore UK nationals who don't reside in Spain but want to buy a second home here would have to pay double the price for a property. In recent months, there have been other attempts to pass legislation that would limit foreign property ownership, all of which have failed. Political groups in the Canary and Balearic Islands - both very popular tourist spots where foreign home buyers are undeniably shaping the local property market - have unsuccessfully asked the EU for help and suggested limits on non-residents in government meetings. In late March Catalan separatist party ERC presented its own initiative to force resident foreigners - rather than non-residents - to have to apply for the right to buy homes if they have lived here for under five years in the country. This proposal was also rejected. However, if it's Spain's national government that is pursuing such limits on foreign home ownership there is a higher chance that it will come to fruition, especially keeping in mind that only last month they effectively scrapped the golden visa scheme for wealthy non-EU foreigners as promised a year earlier.
