This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Meetings citizenship act Malta'.




Ref. Ares(2020)1537959 - 12/03/2020
Ref. Ares(2020)1912113 - 03/04/2020

purposes. The scheme was limited to 1800 main applicants. 
The money would be put in a Fund and serve for social 
investment in hospitals, schools.... 
  
Francoise Le Bail referred to the public reactions, the EP 
resolution, the international law context and the respective 
jurisprudence (Nottebohm case of the ICJ and Rottmann case 
of ECJ). She underlined that a genuine link to the country was 
at the basis of nationality. She also stressed that granting 
nationality also means granting EU citizenship and the rights 
attached to it. She wondered whether a change of the investor 
scheme could be considered to take the genuine link 
better into account. 
  
Dr Bonnici underlined the scheme requires applicants to keep 
the property for 5 years to ensure the link with the country. 
But he understands that the issue is about ensuring residence 
status ahead of granting nationality - at least for some time. 
He said he was open to consider but would have to bring this 
back to his Prime Minister. He made reference to schemes in 
CY and AT which also seem to lack the residency status but 
acknowledged that other MS had schemes where residence 
status for a certain time was the first step to 
granting nationality. He also wondered how to effectively 
enforce residence status - if put in the scheme. 
  
Francoise Le Bail reassured Dr Bonnici that we see merit in 
attracting investors to Malta, and that we do not want to 
prescribe a specific system. She suggested an expert meeting 
to look into the details of other schemes in order to find a 
solution for the Maltese investor scheme that is in line with 
international law and ensures the link with the country. 
  
Dr Bonnino agreed with this approach and will be back in the 
coming days to set up the expert meeting and to give 
feedback as to whehter an amendment of the investor scheme 
to bring it in line with international law and practise in other 
MS could be considered. He underlined that he appreciates the 
Commission efforts to sort this out. 
  
Both sides underlined readiness to work rapidly on finding a 
solution along those lines. 
  
 
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