EU Court Rules Against Malta: Golden Passports Scheme Found to Violate EU Law

The European Court has delivered a significant ruling, determining that Malta’s golden passports scheme violates EU law. The court’s decision underscores concerns over the scheme’s lack of transparency and potential security risks, as well as its implications for the free movement of people within the EU. By selling citizenship to non-EU nationals without adequate due diligence, Malta’s program was deemed to pose a threat to the integrity of the EU’s citizenship framework. The ruling is a major setback for Malta’s efforts to attract foreign investment through its citizenship-by-investment program and may have far-reaching consequences for similar schemes across the EU. The court’s decision highlights the importance of upholding EU laws and ensuring that member states’ actions do not compromise the principles of EU citizenship.