19/10/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission will formally launch infringement proceedings on Tuesday 20 October against the ‘golden visa programmes that Cyprus and Malta have put in place to attract foreign investment. We will continue our “ intensive contact” with these two Member States to “ ensure that European Union law is respected”, said the Vice-President of the European institution, Maroš Šefčovič, on Monday 19 October, following a meeting of the European college of Commissioners. The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recently said that fundamental European values were not for sale. A recent Al Jazeera investigation had revealed that the Cypriot programme had, with the complicity of political leaders, granted citizenship to people who have been convicted of fraud and money laundering (see EUROPE 12544/17). The plenary session of the European Parliament will debate the “golden visa” regime on Thursday 22 October. (MB)