In recent years, golden visa and citizenship-by-investment schemes have become a focal point in the debate over the intersection of economic growth, migration policy and EU integrity.
While such programmes have attracted billions of euros in investment to several Member States—most notably Greece, Portugal and Malta—they have also raised concerns about transparency, money laundering risks and the commodification of EU citizenship.
Meanwhile, the EU has reformed its Schengen visa-waiver suspension mechanism to include investor citizenship schemes as a new ground for suspending visa-free travel for specific countries. This reform allows the EU to more flexibly respond to security and human rights concerns, including hybrid threats, and introduces new thresholds for action.
Join this open and evidence-based exchange on whether golden visas can evolve into a sustainable policy tool or whether they risk undermining the EU’s core values of fairness, security and trust.
