April 29, 2025 — The European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared Malta’s citizenship-by-investment scheme illegal, dealing a major blow to “golden passport” programs in the EU. Here’s what you need to know:
Program Name: Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN).
Launched: 2014.
Cost: €690,000+ for Maltese (and EU) citizenship.
Benefits: Visa-free EU travel, residency rights, minimal stay requirements.€1.1 billion for Malta.
Controversy: Accused of attracting oligarchs and individuals tied to financial crimes.
Violated EU Principles: No “genuine link” (e.g., residency, ties) between applicants and Malta.
Security Risks: Undermined mutual trust among EU states, raising corruption and money laundering concerns.
Precedent: Follows Cyprus and Bulgaria ending similar programs in 2021/2022.
Economic Blow: Loss of €1B+ revenue used for infrastructure, NGOs, and healthcare.
PM Robert Abela’s Warning: “Significant repercussions” for funded projects.
Ongoing Scheme: Malta’s “golden visa” (residency-for-investment) remains active.
Stricter Citizenship Rules: Expect tighter EU policies requiring genuine integration.
Sanctions Evasion Concerns: High-profile cases included Russians gaining EU citizenship pre-2022 sanctions.
Global Trend: May influence debates on balancing investment incentives with security.
Supporters: Anti-corruption groups like Transparency International hailed the decision as a win for EU integrity.
Critics: Malta insists its vetting process rejected 33% of applicants, citing sovereignty over citizenship rules.
Malta must terminate MEIN immediately. The EU may introduce unified standards to prevent abuse of citizenship schemes, prioritizing genuine connections over financial transactions.
Key Takeaway: EU citizenship cannot be a commodity—trust and integration matter.
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Malta’s Golden Passport Scheme
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