16/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Contrary to what was indicated in the article on the future European Parliament debate on “the sale of European citizenship” to foreign nationals (see EUROPE 10984), Greece, Portugal, Spain and Latvia do not have regimes for directly acquiring citizenship, unlike Malta. It would be more accurate to say that these countries have programmes for “selling” residence permits to attract investors and which can subsequently lead to the acquisition of the nationality of the country in question. Malta has a programme in which citizenship can directly be acquired for people who make an investment of at least €650,000. This amount is very low compared to the requirements in other member states when they “sell” residency permits to “rich” investors from abroad. (SP/transl.fl)