Answer
Yes, European citizenship rules are becoming more restrictive. Examples include new rules in Sweden, changes in the Netherlands and Portugal, and a separately mentioned increase in Portugal’s residence requirement from five to ten years.
This matters when comparing Uruguay with European programmes. An old article or someone else’s successful experience does not prove that the same route remains open: conditions may change in terms of residence periods, verification of the source of funds, document requirements and restrictions applying to citizens of particular countries.
European options therefore cannot be assessed only by an earlier qualifying period. Check the current rules, complete document list and whether the programme applies to your nationality. Otherwise, an “accessible path to citizenship” may already have changed or be closed to a particular applicant.