EU citizenship.
Austria, Cyprus and Malta - EU countries - participants of the Citizenship by Investment program. The program itself is a legal way to acquire a new citizenship in the shortest term when fulfilling the requirements on the part of the investor and his family members. And, as immigration experts like to say, without prejudice to the applicant’s usual routine of life.
The autumn of 2018 was marked by attempts by the EU authorities to justify stricter investment immigration guidelines. First of all, on the basis that granting citizenship for investments carries serious risks for the countries of the commonwealth.
The responce of the Investment Migration Board (IMC), represented by the IMC Executive Director was the following: “Professional immigration firms and governments spend significant time and capital on providing security at the highest level. All citizenship applications for investments are checked in accordance with applicable EU law on the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism ...
IMC understands and shares the concerns regarding the security of EU citizens. Nevertheless, he believes that the procedures implemented in Austria, Malta and Cyprus - in the three most active EU countries in this area - do not pose any threat, as these countries have very strict selection and examination procedures for candidates.
Citizenship for Investment programs implemented by sovereign EU countries process a very small number of applications - from 700 to 1000 per year. For comparison, according to Eurostat, in 2016, a total of 994,800 people received citizenship in EU member states. Thus, the number of applicants for citizenship for investment is about 0.1% of the total number of EU citizenship granted annually. "
From our point of view, a new stage of controversy surrounding investment immigration is coming in 2019, with both sides defending their views and interests.
