By EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert Gerd Valchars

In a parliamentary written question to the Austrian Ministry of Interior Members of Parliament tried to find out the names of those naturalised Austrians, who earlier this year received Austrian citizenship “by reason of the actual or expected outstanding achievements in the particular interests of the Republic” (Austrian Citizenship Act, Art. 10(6)). This provision in Austria’s citizenship law allows to waive residence conditions, language and civic knowledge tests and the renunciation of a foreign citizenship if the government confirms such outstanding achievements. While, as a reaction to a notorious case of political corruption, Austria did not grant citizenship under this provision during the last two years, in June this year 59 people gained Austrian citizenship according to Art. 10(6).

The Ministry of Interior now refused to list the names of all naturalised Austrians “in the particular interests of the Republic” claiming official secrecy and privacy concerns. Earlier in February the government passed a new list of criteria arguing that this will in the future clarify the conditions for awarding citizenship on grounds of special achievement and will ensure transparency in the administrative procedure. It later turned out that this government bill aiming for transparency was itself a classified document. 

The majority of the prominent naturalised Austrians are athletes; there are also artists, managers and scientists completing the list. Although the Ministry officially refused to publish their names most of these have been mentioned in media reports.

Read the news reports in Die Presse, Nachrichten, and ORF and consult the EUDO-CITIZENSHIP Country Profile for Austria.