Italy's Citizenship Law Reform Sent to EU Court

Italy approved Law 74/2025 in March 2025, tightening its jure sanguinis citizenship rules by limiting automatic citizenship by descent to children and grandchildren of Italian nationals. The reform ends eligibility for great‑grandchildren and more distant descendants of Italians living abroad, affecting millions of diaspora communities in South America, North America and Australia.

The legislation triggered widespread protests, legal challenges and claims that it violates EU citizenship principles. Italy’s Constitutional Court, after initially refusing a referral, has now suspended its own proceedings and asked the European Court of Justice to assess the law’s compatibility with EU law. The ECJ’s decision will determine whether the restrictions can stand or be reversed.

Critics argue the law creates statelessness for children born and raised in Italy, separates families, and imposes severe bureaucratic hurdles, while supporters claim it safeguards national identity. The case highlights the tension between national sovereignty over citizenship and EU-wide rights.