Malta Residence by Investment program (MEIN) policy must end, says Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. That was her response to the question from the press regarding her position on citizenship by investment in Malta. The Commission last year initiated infringement procedures against both Malta and Cyprus over their citizenship by investment programs. Since then, Cyprus has closed its program not in response to European objections but to a domestic political scandal. While Malta has replaced its MIIP with a new citizenship by investment program, known as Malta Residence by Investment program (MEIN). Von der Leyen’s brief comments this week are Commission’s first pronouncement on Maltese citizenship by investment since MEIN took effect.
“There’s point of principle where we’re not precisely agreeing. We believe that whatever relates to citizenship is a national competence. The country decides its competence on citizenship” — that was response from Alex Muscat? Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship, to Von der Leyen’s comments.
European Citizenship: all pending golden passports of Cyprus applications have been reviewed
Meanwhile, the government of Cyprus has finished examining all pending applications filed under the — now defunct — citizenship by investment program, and has duly briefed the European Union, Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said on Tuesday (21st of September 2021). The applicants themselves have yet to receive notification of the outcome, as the files are still under review by the attorney-general’s office.“We are now waiting for the EU’s response,” Nouris noted.
The government of Cyprus has had to tread carefully, what with Brussels already signaling its strong disapproval of Cyprus’ continued processing of applications after the investment scheme’s termination.
The Commission gave Cyprus two months to take the necessary measures to address its concerns — mainly that investors with no links to the country other than their investment were granted passports.
Note that only Montenegro has running citizenship by investment program and it works only until the end of 2021. Now it is the best time to take part in it and get a European passport in 6 months. And if you want to be connected with Cyprus you still can invest in local real estate and get Permanent Residency by investment.
Sources: IMIDaily, Cyprus Mail
