LOC16:18
13:18 GMT
BRUSSELS, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- The European Parliament Thursday passed a
resolution with 560 votes to 22 voicing its opposition to the sale of EU
citizenship to foreingers.
The resolution voices concern about schemes established by various EU
member states and in particular Malta, which result in the sale of national,
and hence EU, citizenship.
Malta is reportedly selling its passports for 650,000 euros (USD 883,000)
to foreigners without any residency requirement.
The resolution says EU citizens "cannot have a price tag attached to them"
and called on the European Commission to state clearly whether these schemes
respect the letter and spirit of the EU treaties and EU rules on
non-discrimination.
Furthermore, citizenship-for-investment schemes "only allow the richest
third-country nationals to obtain EU citizenship, without any other criteria
being considered", which implies discrimination, it notes.
EU Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding, has condemned the Maltese plan
saying "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. (end)
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