New law targets golden passports, hybrid threats, and rights violations
The EU has agreed on stricter rules for suspending visa-free short-stay travel from non-EU countries. The changes give the EU more flexibility to respond to serious issues such as security threats, human rights abuses, and citizenship-for-investment schemes known as “golden passports.”
Under the new agreement, visa-free access can be suspended if a country:
- Violates the UN Charter or international human rights laws
- Offers investor citizenship programs
- Uses migrants to destabilise the EU
- Fails to align with EU visa policy
Government officials involved in such actions can also lose their visa-free access, even if they hold diplomatic passports.
Clear thresholds have been set for action, such as a 30% rise in overstays or asylum claims, with some room for exceptions in urgent cases. ย Rapporteur Matjaลพ Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) said the reform will help the EU respond to new threats and hold foreign governments accountable.
This development follows recent controversy surrounding Maltaโs citizenship scheme. As previously reported by The Maltese Herald, the European Court of Justice ruled that Maltaโs Individual Investor Programme violates EU law. In response, the Nationalist Party has demanded the full withdrawal of the scheme and urged the government to comply with the court’s ruling.
The new rules on visa-free travel still need formal approval from both the European Parliament and the Council.
News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster
Leave a Reply