Parliament opens the way for attracting overseas talents

A DIKO proposal, which has been voted in by the Plenary with 42 votes in favour and 2 against, has amended the Civil Registry Law to modernise the existing legislative framework regarding the qualifications and criteria for the naturalisation of foreigners and strengthen the control and the execution of due investigation by the Civil Registry and Migration Department.

The aim, among other things, is to attract highly skilled workers and their families to live and work in Cyprus.

The Plenum rejected an amendment submitted by Green Party MP Charalambos Theopemptou and the independent MP Alexandra Attalidou.

Based on the proposal approved by the Parliament, it is left to the discretion of the Minister of the Interior to allow, for humanitarian reasons, the submission of an application for naturalisation by a person who does not meet the criterion of full capacity, and at the same time the prescribed criteria are revised, according to which it will be considered that the applicant for naturalisation meets the qualification of good character, in order to be able to acquire the status of a citizen of the Republic, by virtue of naturalisation.

A proposal submitted by the Ministry of the Interior was also adopted, so that the knowledge of the Greek language at level B1 is considered sufficient for the persons interested in naturalisation, as well as the determination of the required language proficiency certificates, for the purposes of proving the expected level of knowledge of Greek.

Also read: A look at the proposed new citizenship framework for highly skilled professionals

Also read: How the new naturalisation framework could boost the tech sector

These certificates will be granted after the naturalisation applicant submits to a written examination, which will be conducted at regular intervals.

The family members of persons residing in the Republic, for the purpose of highly skilled employment, may be naturalised, provided that, in addition to the other prescribed criteria and conditions, they also meet the qualification of legal and continuous residence during the period of the immediately preceding twelve months from the date of the naturalisation application.

In addition, the spouses and cohabitants of persons residing in the Republic for the purpose of highly skilled employment will be able to be naturalised, provided that the family already exists at the time of submitting the application for naturalisation and, in this regard, the family ties were created prior to its submission.

Based on the proposed law, the process of expedited examination of the application for naturalisation of a person will be completed in a period of up to eight months, and pending applications for naturalisation will be processed, in accordance with the provisions of the proposed law, in accordance with the established order of priority for their examination based on the currently valid regime and regardless of the submission of additional information on the requests.

See the approved Law proposal, in Greek, HERE

The positions of the MPs

On behalf of DIKO that filed the proposal, its President Nikolas Papadopoulos said the new model of naturalisations that is proposed, has nothing to do with investments but with knowledge and the aim is to attract qualified experts in specific fields. He said that investment in research and innovation is an investment in the future of our country and this will have a huge economic benefit.

Papadopoulos analysed the proposal and said that, among other things, applicants must have stable financial resources, a clean criminal record and not pose a threat to the security of the state.

He cited figures based on which the contribution of innovation to GDP amounts to 13% and the fact that research and innovation companies employ 70% of Cypriots.

Papadopoulos said that it is not a "golden passport programme", but a "golden knowledge" one, and that Cyprus is adopting good practices as a state, while also strengthening development.

DISY MP Nikos Sykas noted that from time to time we all say that Cyprus must develop into a country of knowledge, experience, and know-how and by attracting highly qualified people, this is being achieved.

He said that there should be new funds for development in technology especially in artificial intelligence as well as for creating added value for Cyprus and its national product.

On behalf of AKEL, MP Aristos Damianou said that the proposal ensures that we will not be talking about naturalisations with only the appearance of presences in Cyprus and that the sustainability of development, which we all call for, comes with the physical presence in Cyprus.

He said that based on data, research and innovation companies in Cyprus contribute 3.2 billion euros to the economy and Cypriots make up 70% of those employed by them.

Damianou said that the vast majority of highly qualified people (that would benefit from the amendments) already live in our country and their children knew Greek very well. He said that we are not talking about a "Jho Low phenomenon" and that there are measurable criteria for the qualifications that these people should have.

ELAM MP Linos Papayiannis said that his party supports the proposal because it brings about a better supervision of naturalisations compared to what was done in the past. He said that the proposal gives the opportunity to those with special characteristics to help our country and its economy, something which almost all EU countries do.

However, Green Party MP Charalambos Theopemptou said that we have a "bad name" abroad and one of the reasons he had put his amendment forward was to have a ceiling on the number of naturalisations and to ensure the Parliament was kept informed of developments. The amendment was rejected.  He said the proposed law (as it was passed) sets a loose framework and, in his view, will provide opportunities for "gross abuses".

The independent MP Alexandra Attalidou said that our vision for the country's economy was in an opportunistic, susceptible, and vulnerable context and that we must finally clean up the "taint of corruption," as she described it.

She stated that she does not trust any Cabinet to grant naturalisations and that the Government, instead of becoming the guardian of our citizenship, has become its "promoter," as she put it.

She also raised questions about how the work positions will be advertised, whether they will be legitimate and who will control this.

(Source: CNA/InBusinessNews)