EU Reiterates Its Request to Albania to Refrain From Introducing a Golden Passport Scheme
Such recommendations came from the European Commission in its fifth report under the visa suspension mechanism, AtoZSerwisPlus.comreports.
“Setting up an investor citizenship scheme would be contrary to the recommendations made in the Fourth Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism and the 2021 enlargement package,” the report reads.
According to the estimations made by the European Commission, an investor citizenship program may serve to bypass the European Union short-stay visa procedure and pose potential migratory and security risks.
The European Commission has called authorities in Albania several times not to launch such a scheme after the same is often involved in many unlawful affairs such as money laundering and other illicit affairs.
Besides, the Commission warned Tirana that such a program could lead to visa-regime suspension.
“This is of great concern for the EU in the context of its visa-free agreement with Albania. The Commission takes the view that, if such schemes are deemed to constitute an increased risk to the internal security and public policy of the Member States, the visa-free regime may be suspended,” the statement reads.
The Commission emphasized the fact that Albania has followed most of the recommendations made by the Commission previously, however, the report noted that Albania also has introduced measures that go against the Commission’s recommendations regarding alignment as well as the citizenship program, thus stressing that further progress is needed regarding specific issues, among them the abolishment of the plan to introduce the Golden Passport scheme.
Among other recommendations made by the Commission for Albanian authorities is also to align the country’s visa policy with the EU’s list of visa requirements for citizens from third countries, and continue to work on the fight against illegal affairs such as corruption, terrorism, organized crime and money laundering.
The Golden Passport scheme permits wealthy internationals who contribute financially to Albania and meet specific requirements to acquire citizenship in this country. However, it has often been criticized for being an open door to many illegal affairs.
Despite European Commission recommendations, authorities in Albania previously stressed that there is nothing to worry about regarding the implementation of this scheme.
The Commission continues to call on all the Member States that run such programs to terminate them as soon as possible.