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European Union: We Can't Intervene in Citizenship Dispute
Thursday 27 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Brussels, May 27 (TASR) - The European Union said on Thursday that it won't intervene in the dispute between its two members Slovakia and Hungary after the latter earlier this week passed an amendment easing the conditions for acquiring Hungarian citizenship.
The Union, according to European Commission spokesman Matthew Newman, lacks powers that could settle the issue in any way. The Commission doesn't have the power to shape policy vis-a-vis the granting, altering or annulling of citizenship and therefore can't intervene. This area is solely within the legal powers of EU-member countries.
"We've noted the case, but the European Commission lacks any citizenship powers and it's up to the member states to choose what they will include in their legislative systems. The Commission can't intervene in any case in which countries determine to whom and under which circumstances they grant citizenship," said Newman, spokesman for Vice-president responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding.
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