EP to follow up Greens' request on EU countries' investment schemes

Arnold Cassola

The European Parliament will be debating the issue of “European Citizenship” following the Greens’ and other parties’ request, as a result of the Maltese government’s proposed sale of Maltese citizenship.

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “In view of the Muscat government offer of sale of Maltese citizenship for any bid over 650.000 euros the European Greens had tabled the attached oral question where they asked if the European Council could clarify whether the Maltese Parliament’s decision respected the letter and the non-discrimination principle as laid down in the Treaties and the Schengen Borders Code. Moreover at least 5 other Member States (Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, Latvia, Greece) have offered to grant residency rights in exchange of business investment, real estates or government bonds, and therefore the Greens asked the Council to comment on the situation in the Member States mentioned in relations to the offers made. The debate will be held on 15 January.”

Il-Parlament Ewropew ser ikun qiegħed jiddiskuti l-kwistjoni taċ-“Ċittadinanza Ewropea” wara sejħa li għamlu l-Ħodor Ewropej u xi partiti oħra minħabba l-proposta tal-Gvern Malti li jbiegħ iċ-ċittadinanza Maltija.Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Fil-kuntest tal-offerta tal-Gvern ta’ Muscat li jbiegħ iċ-ċittadinanza lil kull min joffri 650,000 ewro jew aktar, il-Ħodor Ewropej ippreżentaw il-mistoqsija mehmuża hawn fejn staqsew jekk il-Kunsill Ewropej jistax jiċċara jekk id-deċiżjoni tal-Parlament Malti hiex skont ir-regoli u jekk tirrispettax il-prinċipju ta’ kontra  d-diskriminazzjoni skont it-Trattati tal-Unjoni kif ukoll tax-Schengen Borders Code. Barra minn hekk, mill-inqas ħames Stati Membri oħra (Spanja, Ċipru, il-Portugall, il-Latvja u l-Greċja) offrew li jgħatu
d-dritt għar-residenza jekk ikun hemm investiment kummerċjali, fi propjeta` jew f’bonds tal-Gvern, u għalhekk il-Greens staqsew lill-Kunsill biex jikkummenta fuq is-sitwazzjoni fl-Istati Membri b’konnessjoni ma’ dawn l-offerti li saru. Id-dibattatu se jsir fil-15 ta’ Jannar.”

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