EU criticize maltese cash-for-passport scheme

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday condemned a new Maltese scheme to sell its passports for 650,000 euros (USD 883,000) to foreigners without any residency requirement.EU Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding, speaking in the European Parliament during a debate on the issue said “national citizenship is an entry door to the EU. It is an entry door to the EU Treaty and to the rights that EU citizens enjoy.” She said that EU Member States should only award citizenship to persons where there is a “genuine link” or “genuine connection” to the country in question.“It is legitimate to question whether EU citizenship rights should merely depend on the size of someone’s wallet or bank account. Citizenship must not be up for sale!” she stressed.Political groups in the EP also condemned the Maltese scheme while some MEPS noted that that the offer is oriented only towards the wealthy and could attract Russian millionaires.Austrian MEP Jorg Leichtfried condemned the Maltese plans saying that while the rich can buy their way into Europe, many poor refugees are drowning in the Mediterranean.Meanwhile, the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat vowed Wednesday to carry on with the scheme.Muscat accused the opposition Nationalist Party of inciting the EU and the international media against his country’s scheme.