The European Court of Justice has ruled that Malta’s investor citizenship scheme, often referred to as a “golden passport” programme, is incompatible with EU law. The Court stated that such schemes undermine the core concept of EU citizenship and mutual trust between Member States.
The judgment effectively requires Malta to terminate the scheme, which grants citizenship in exchange for financial investment. The ruling also reinforces the need for EU-wide rules to regulate similar schemes, which critics argue pose risks related to money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.
The Renew Europe group has reiterated its call for an EU-level ban on the commercialisation of citizenship. MEP Fabienne Keller (Renaissance, France) stated that “EU citizenship is not for sale,” while MEP Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle (D66, Netherlands) welcomed the decision as “another win” in efforts to combat corruption.
The group urged the European Commission to propose binding legislation that would include strict background checks, residency requirements, regulation of intermediaries, and common tax measures on revenues generated from such schemes.
