Breaking: Malta's Golden Passport Scheme is a Breach of EU Law, Says ECJ
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Got some juicy gossip from the EU, mate? Malta's coveted citizenship scheme for foreign investors has hit a roadblock. The European Commission has been fighting tooth and nail against the Mediterranean state, and they've finally won!
To gain Maltese citizenship, foreigners need to meet a few conditions. They've got to cough up at least 600,000 euros, buy a property worth at least 700,000 euros, or rent an expensive pad. But that's all changing now.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has put a stop to this practice, declaring that it goes against the very core of our beloved EU. This scheme doesn't build any sense of belonging or loyalty between a member state and its citizens. And, it jeopardizes mutual trust among member states.
- ECJ Ruling
- Malta Citizenship
- Golden Passport
- Investment
- European Union
- Citizenship Rules
Some interesting tidbits about this situation:
- The ECJ made this decision on 29 April 2025. This ruling effectively bans such citizenship-for-cash schemes across the EU.
- The program, as it stood, was deemed a "commercialisation of EU citizenship," which is a major no-no. It ignored principles of sincere cooperation and rules on Union citizenship.
- This ruling sets a binding precedent, meaning no other EU state can adopt a similar scheme.
- The program failed to establish a "genuine link" between the investment and Malta, which undermined mutual trust and solidarity among EU member states.
- Critics argue that this decision overlooks the economic benefits of regulated investor programs and contrasts with non-EU countries' practices. But the ECJ insisted on upholding legal integrity over financial incentives.
So there you have it, the end of Malta's golden passport scheme and a new wave of stricter EU oversight of citizenship policies. Brace yourselves, folks, this is just the beginning!
- The European Court of Justice (ECJ) pronounced on 29 April 2025 that Malta's "golden passport" scheme, which grants citizenship to foreign investors, breaches EU law.
- The ECJ's decision effectively bans similar citizenship-for-cash schemes across the European Union, as it considers the Maltese program a "commercialisation of EU citizenship."
- The ruling follows concerns regarding mutual trust among member states and the lack of a genuine link between the investment and Malta, which are at odds with the principles of sincere cooperation and rules on Union citizenship.
- No other EU state can now adopt a similar scheme due to the ruling's binding precedent, signifying stricter EU oversight of citizenship policies moving forward.
- Critics allege that the decision neglects the economic benefits of regulated investor programs and contradicts the practices of non-EU countries. However, the ECJ emphasized the importance of upholding legal integrity over financial incentives.