Visa-free access to the Schengen area via golden citizenship programmes in third countries

Question for written answer  E-006710/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Sven Giegold (Verts/ALE)

Several jurisdictions that profit from visa-free access to the EU’s Schengen area under Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 are known to operate golden citizenship programmes. Other jurisdictions are considering introducing such programmes.

• 1.The Commission has announced that it has demanded information from third countries on their golden citizenship programmes following its report of January 2019 on investor citizenship and residence schemes. What are its findings, broken down by country?
• 2.In particular, how many people in each country have indirectly bought access to the Schengen area through the acquisition of a golden citizenship of a third country?
• 3.The Commission has mentioned that certain countries have ended their respective regimes of golden citizenships while others have shelved plans to introduce such schemes. Which jurisdictions have ended their golden citizenship schemes since January 2019 and which countries have shelved their plans to introduce such schemes?