The new Citizenship Act came into force in June 2024. It stipulates that the naturalization certificate should be presented in a festive setting at a public naturalization ceremony.
The Oder-Spree district hosted this event for the first time on Monday, 9 September 2024. District Administrator Frank Steffen, Katja Kaiser, Head of the Department for Youth, Social Affairs and Culture, and Ariane Haupt, Head of the Office for Foreigners' Affairs and Integration, welcomed the new citizens.
"I am delighted that you have decided to obtain German citizenship," said District Administrator Frank Steffen. "You are now not only a citizen of the Oder-Spree district and the Federal Republic of Germany, but also of the European Union. That is something unique. I wish you all the best and am delighted that you are doing your part to ensure that we continue to develop prosperity in Germany."
Before the ten newly naturalized people, who came to Germany from Syria, Vietnam, Nigeria and Mexico, received their certificates, they all solemnly read out the declaration: "I solemnly declare that I will respect the Basic Law and the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and will refrain from doing anything that could harm it."
Department head Katja Kaiser encouraged the new citizens not to forget their own culture despite their naturalization: "Share your experiences, keep your culture alive, it must not be forgotten."
This year, 114 people from 18 different countries have already been naturalized in the Oder-Spree district, with the largest group of 65 people coming from Syria. Of the 114 naturalized citizens, 56 percent are male and 44 percent are female. On average, they are 30.2 years old and have been living in Germany for nine and a half years.
In future, the solemn declaration of commitment to the Basic Law and the presentation of the naturalization certificate will take place as part of a public naturalization ceremony every two weeks or so.