Ben McPartland

Paris

Managing Editor at The Local (Europe)

Managing Editor at The Local (Denmark)

Editor of The Local Europe news sites (https://t.co/DevfCMSluT) Based in Paris. Views are rarely my own. Email: ben.mcpartland@ https://t.co/DevfCMSluT

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Articles

TELL US: Are you affected by Germany's plan to scrap fast-track citizenship process?

4 weeks ago | thelocal.de | Ben McPartland

The law change would basically end the possibility that highly integrated foreigners can naturalise as German after just three years - instead of the standard five. The conservative Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) had already agreed the reform in their coalition deal. The three-year track for well-integrated immigrants was introduced in mid-2024 as part of a sweeping reform of Germany's citizenship rules.
Are you interested in writing for The Local Norway?

1 month ago | thelocal.no | Ben McPartland

Our job at The Local is to explain Norwegian news and the complexities of life in Norway to readers. Our readers are mostly foreign nationals living in the country or people living all around the world who happen to have a particular interest in Norway. They may be regular visitors or just simply dream of moving to the country one day.
Job advert: The Local France is looking for a freelance journalist

1 month ago | thelocal.fr | Ben McPartland

Our job at The Local is to explain French news and the complexities of life in France to readers. Our members and readers are mostly foreign nationals living in the country, second home owners or people living all around the world who happen to have a particular interest in France. They may be regular visitors or plan on moving to the country one day.
'Retiring here is unaffordable': Why foreign residents leave Switzerland

1 month ago | thelocal.ch | Ben McPartland

The number of foreigners who leave Switzerland after having lived here for a period of time is also quite high in comparison with other European nations, according to Eurostat migration statistics. Between 2013 and 2022, for instance, an average of 155,000 people immigrated to Switzerland each year. During the same period, about 90,000 foreign nationals left the country.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of Swiss bureaucracy?

1 month ago | thelocal.ch | Ben McPartland

Swiss bureaucracy can be notoriously painful for Swiss nationals, let alone foreign residents. So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Switzerland. Is it taxes, driving licences, or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve? Please take a minute or two to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers. We'll publish the most useful responses in a future article. If the questionnaire does not appear below, please click here.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of Austrian bureaucracy?

2 months ago | thelocal.at | Ben McPartland

Austrian bureaucracy can be notoriously painful for Austrians, let alone foreign residents. So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Austria. Is it taxes, driving licences, or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve? Please take a minute or two to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers. We'll publish the most useful responses in a future article. If the questionnaire does not appear below, please click here.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of German bureaucracy?

2 months ago | thelocal.de | Ben McPartland

German bureaucracy is notoriously painful and an attempt to make life easier for residents by getting as many procedures online as possible has not paid off. Indeed a new report has said the idea of a "digital Germany" is just a "distant prospect". So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Germany. Is it taxes or driving licences or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve?
TELL US: Are you affected by Italy's new citizenship by descent law?

2 months ago | thelocal.it | Ben McPartland

The Italian government has recently tightened the rules for claiming Italian citizenship by descent in a dramatic move that's been described as an "act of war" against descendants of Italians abroad.
When will Europe roll out its ETIAS visa waiver for non-EU travellers?

Mar 28, 2025 | thelocal.com | Ben McPartland

As a reminder, the EU is planning big changes for travel in the near future with its biometric entry/exit system known as EES and its own visa-waiver known as ETIAS. Both were meant to be in place long before now - and long before the UK rolled out its own travel authorisation scheme - but have been hit by a series of delays after governments and travel companies raised repeated concerns about the impending border chaos they would provoke.
MAP: How the spread of coronavirus has hit countries across Europe

Mar 20, 2025 | thelocal.com | Ben McPartland

Scroll down to see more maps of how the corona virus have hit different parts of Europe. This interactive map shows the outlook across Europe. As the map shows, Italy is by far the hardest hit among European countries.