The Greek Parliament yesterday voted in favour of granting citizenship to immigrants' children born and raised in Greece, provided they have been enrolled at a Greek primary school at the time of the application, and that one of their parents at least has lived in Greece legally for five years prior to their birth.

Addressing Parliament, the Alternate Minister for Migration Policy, Tasia Christodoulopoulou, underlined that citizenship to 2nd generation immigrants was above all a question of democracy.

The citizenship law, for which 172 voted in principle in favour and 91 against in the 300-seat parliament, is expected to affect some 200.000 people.

• New shelter for migrant minors

The John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and the non-governmental organisation Praksis, funded a new shelter for unaccompanied migrant children staying in Athens. The press conference marking the shelter’s opening was attended by Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Tasia Christodoulopoulou (June 23). "I think this is a very important and symbolic initiative that must be imitated by others” the minister stressed. The new centre has the capacity to receive 24 children, who are referred to it from the National Centre for Social Solidarity. It currently houses 18 boys aged 13 to 17 years old, chiefly from Afghanistan and Syria.


See also: Greek News Agenda: Special Issue: Greek Citizenship