MEPs called on the European Commission to put an end to the EU’s citizenship-by-investment programmes, known as “golden passports”, at a plenary debate on Thursday 22 October.
They welcomed the announcement earlier this week of the opening of infringement proceedings against Cyprus and Malta concerning their programmes (see EUROPE 12585/12), but asked the Commission to go further.
Member of Parliament Sophie in ‘t Veld (RE, Netherlands), for who these programs represent “a golden back door to the European Union for criminals” announced that at the initiative of her political group, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties would draw up a legislative own-initiative report calling on the Commission to present a legislative proposal to ban the sale of “golden passports” in the EU.
Several MEPs also felt that the European Commission had taken too long to act. The Commission first tried to find a political solution, on the basis of a dialogue with the Member States concerned, replied the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
But Malta seems to have committed itself to replacing the current regime with a new programme on a largely unchanged a priori basis and in Cyprus, while the government has announced the end of the current regime in the near future (see EUROPE 12580/32), the introduction of a new programme is already under discussion, he explained.
“The issue is too important to wait for the outcome of this process. We are now taking steps to show our determination and commitment not to accept that citizenship of the Union should be put on the market as a mere commodity”, he continued.
MEP Loukás Fourlás (EPP, Cyprus) recalled that this type of regime had been introduced by some countries, such as Cyprus, as a reaction to the economic crisis, but said those responsible for abuses should be sanctioned. For his part, Giórgos Georgíou (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) criticised the way in which the ‘Cyprus papers’ scandal (see EUROPE 12544/17) was handled by his country’s government, which remained deaf to the Commission’s recommendations.
Asked about applications already accepted under the Cypriot and Maltese programmes, Didier Reynders said that the question of retroactivity needed to be carefully assessed. “It is premature to take a position on this now. We haven’t even gone to the Court of Justice”, he replied.
For Sven Giegold (Greens/EFA, Germany), the Commission urgently needs to look into investment-based residency programmes as well, such as Portugal’s “golden visa” scheme. “Let's not kid ourselves. Commissioner, don't apply double standards, visas must not be sold either”, he said.
These schemes do not pose the same legal problems as the schemes that lead to the acquisition of EU citizenship, but they also present risks, Commissioner Reynders acknowledged, assuring that the Commission would continue to monitor them.
The Commission is also committed to closely monitor the citizenship regimes operated by non-Member States, including EU candidate countries, which enjoy visa-free access to the EU. “Such access should not be used as a marketing tool to attract money in exchange for citizenship”, declared Mr Reynders. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)