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08 September 2018 "The Austrian Government's will to insist on the project of the double passport for the South Tyrolean people is to be considered a hostile initiative. Sharing European citizenship makes this act purely propagandistic and on such an important issue we cannot accept provocations" . This was stated in a note by the Minister for relations with the Parliament and direct democracy, Riccardo Fraccaro."It is evident - the minister continues - that every further step in this direction would inevitably lend itself to influencing the upcoming local elections in South Tyrol. Austria, moreover, holds the pro tempore presidency of the EU and all the more reason it is unacceptable to give rise to divisive actions: Vienna therefore puts aside any political and electoral instrumentalization that our Government intends to repel dryly ", concludes Fraccaro.
Rome restrains Vienna
The double Italian-Austrian passport for the German-speaking and Ladin-speaking South Tyrol takes shape, even if the Kurz government delayed and guaranteed the involvement of Rome and Bolzano. Since the meeting of the committee of experts yesterday in Vienna the bill was not prepared, as had been hypothesized, but only an opinion that will be the starting point for the legislative process. However, the exclusion of the Italian-speaking South Tyrolean seems certain. "That in a reality like the EU we are discussing neighboring countries with dual citizenships to be given to citizens of another country is really a curious fact," Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi commented shakily. "However - he added - we had discussions with the Austrian ambassador, the Vienna embassy and the Austrian government to point out how objectively we seem to be the last of the issues that would be worth opening".
The hypothesis
The German-speaking and Ladin-speaking South Tyroleans will be able to vote for the Nationalrat, the Austrian parliament, as well as in the European elections, announces the Tiroler Tagezeitung. The military service, which Oltrebrennero is still obligatory, will start instead only if the new citizen has residence in Austria. The same applies to social benefits. In order to grant citizenship to the South Tyrolean, Vienna will have to modify four laws altogether. To make everything even affordable, the cost will be lowered to 660 euros, writes the newspaper. Vienna does not seem willing to open this way also to the Italian-speaking South Tyroleans. Only those who have declared themselves German or Ladin can apply. The Sprachgruppenzugehoerigkeitserklaerung, the declaration of linguistic belonging, is filed in court in Bolzano and allows access to public employment and certain social benefits. According to what has been learned, the declaration will not be the only criterion of access. In fact, self-certification is not always truthful, because it does not provide for counter-checks.
The Kurz government was quick to point out that, for the moment, there is no draft law. The commission composed of technicians from the Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Affairs who will draft an opinion. Followed by spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Peter Guschelbauer, - contacts with the provincial government in Bolzano and with the government in Rome. "It will be a long process," Guschelbauer emphasized. Even the South Tyrolean governor Arno Kompatscher has made it clear that "the opinion of the commission of experts is only a basis for discussion. It is not a government document".