Montenegro canceled the issuance of economic citizenship to foreigners

The delegation of the government of Montenegro informed the European Commission about the termination of the program for obtaining Montenegrin citizenship by investment. The decision was made due to criticism from Brussels, which believes that the program poses a “risk of committing serious crimes.” “Regarding economic citizenship, the Montenegrin delegation informed that the Special Investment Program of Special Importance in the economic and economic interests of Montenegro was officially completed on December 31, 2022, which is in line with the EU recommendations on the risks of this program,” the Montenegrin government said.

This is stated in the Report of the 12th meeting of the Stabilization and Association Committee, held on January 25 in Brussels, in a hybrid format, and last night the government published this document.

As stated in this document, the EU delegation called on Montenegro at the meeting of the Committee to provide the necessary financial resources for the implementation of the Schengen Action Plan and the improvement of the borders.

“Although the visa policy has not yet been harmonized with the European one, the EU delegation welcomed the latest steps taken in this regard, especially when it comes to establishing a visa regime with Cuba and restoring visas for citizens of the United Arab Emirates. The significance of the abolition of the economic citizenship scheme has been apostrophized, with the explanation that it poses risks for the commission of serious crimes.

The Montenegrin delegation specifically referred to the new Code of Rules for the internal organization and systematization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which, among other things, provides for an increase in the number of posts in the border police sector by 168 compared to the previous one.

They recall that one of the most explicit demands of the European Commission last year for Montenegro was the abolition of economic citizenship, since, according to Brussels, these schemes increase the risk to the security of the EU countries. They believe that this citizenship can be used to avoid a visa to enter the EU.

Previously, according to the requirement of this program, applicants for citizenship of Montenegro had to contribute to the development of this country – from 100 thousand euros to the state fund and invest from 450 thousand euros in an approved property in Podgorica or the coastal region of Montenegro, or 250 thousand. euro in real estate in the northern or central regions