EU Court Declares Italy’s Residency Rule for Citizens' Wage Discriminatory

The European Union's Court of Justice ruled that Italy's decade-long residency requirement for accessing the 'citizens' wage' anti-poverty program is discriminatory. The policy, introduced in 2018, was intended to restrict benefits to long-term residents but indirectly discriminates against recent immigrants. EU directives mandate equal treatment after five years of residence.

The European Union's Court of Justice has ruled that Italy was wrong to condition eligibility for its 'citizens' wage' anti-poverty program on a decade of residency. The court stated that this policy constitutes indirect discrimination against third-country nationals who are long-term residents.

Introduced in 2018 by the hard-right League and the Five Star Movement, the initiative restricted benefits to individuals with at least ten years of legal residence in Italy. The scheme was further cut back last year under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's conservative government.

According to the EU court, third-country nationals should be entitled to long-term resident status and equal treatment regarding welfare benefits after five years of residence, as per EU directives. Access to such benefits remains a contentious issue amid ongoing public debates over immigration across Europe.

(With inputs from agencies.)