During the EP plenary session (28-31 May 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate EU values and the proliferation of corruption and crime through Golden Visas. Statements by Monika PANAYOTOVA, Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL) and Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

BULC, Violeta (SI, EC)

fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

FAJON, Tanja (S&D, SI)

GIEGOLD, Sven (Greens/EFA, DE)

PANAYOTOVA, Monika (BG)

EU values and the proliferation of corruption and crime through Golden Visas: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Monika PANAYOTOVA, Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, The Golden Visa problems matter because they might open the possibility of misuse, or are sometimes perceived as a potentially weakening the fight against corruption in the EU and its neighbouring countries

SOUNDBITE (English), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, As regards Golden Visas , in the absence of harmonisation at EU level the Commission has no competence on the issuing of residence permits or long stay visas for investors. Member states are competent to set the procedures and conditions of entry and stay for third country nationals who wish to invest in the country and stay for longer than 90 days.

SOUNDBITE (English), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, I know that many if you are concerned about the possible link between citizenship for sale Golden visa scheme and money-laundering. This is indeed maybe a factor that facilitates the injection of illicit money into the licit economy of the member state . Thanks to the effort of the Parliament, the new anti-money-laundering directive includes a specific provision addressing the need for better screening of applicants to national skews for guaranteeing long term residence or citizenship for investors.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Identity and citizenship shouldn&rsquo;t be reduced to only a product which could be bought at the shop. We want people with genue interest to invest, to create jobs in all EU countries , to be able to do this. It is not right you says it doesn&rsquo;t ship without any control.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), How can our members they justify that on one hand they are refusing to accept the a single refugee fleeing war or persecution, while they are more than willing to give citizenship to potential criminals who bring a lot of money to investment without knowing what their real background is. EU citizenship should not be for sale !

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), I don&rsquo;t want to hear this anymore 'we have no competence'. You know, we are legislating in all sorts of areas, including agreements where there is no legal basis either. This is a very serious matter because the people here who buy passports not on the black market , but legally from governments!

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), People whom want to come to the European Union to work , are treated like criminals , and those who want to come here and bring their criminal money are I receives like kings! If you&rsquo;re an EU citizen affected by Brexit, for example because you happen to be you live in a country that you do not have the citizenship of, than you&rsquo;re in a big difficulty . But if you are a Russian oligarch or Chinese oligarch , than are you fine if you have money ! We need to stop applying double standards this is something that we cannot explain to our citizens anymore.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE), If you look around on the Internet you will find there adverts for youth, for luxury watches, beautiful villas and using the same language, the same concepts there is also an offer of citizenship of the EU , and also the right to stay, indefinitely. Now Mrs In 'T Veld you're right it&rsquo;s not just in the problem of some states. In fact, most recently we had a case involving an Ukrainian citizen in Lower Saxony, in Germany and this just because because the person in question were prepared to pay enough money. Did anybody looked any closer to what that matter? No! citizenship and the right to residence is something that you earn by doing something in that country, you integrated in the community, you make an effort !