Citizenship for sale? -- Ċittadinanza għall-bejgħ?

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One of the major political controversies in Malta concerns the Individual Investor Programme – IIP.1 This is a scheme introduced by the Maltese Labour government in 2014 in which a non-Maltese citizen could apply for Maltese citizenship (and consequently freedom of movement in the European Union), if he/she is ready to, amongst others:

•acquire property valued at €350,000 or lease a property at €16,000 a year, keeping it for five years without sub-leasing it;
•contributing at least €650,000 to the National Development and Social Fund, with further contributions expected from all family members of the applicant;
•other financial investments of €150,000 which also need to be kept for 5 years;
•have health insurance;
•be healthy;
•be of good conduct.

An applicant that gets approval in principle, is expected to establish residence in Malta for 12 months before obtaining citizenship by naturalisation.

It is clear that this programme is targeted at wealthy people, and involves the grant of Maltese citizenship on conditions resulting in transactions of around a million Euros to malta. With these massive amounts of money changing hands, its easy to understand being labelled citizenship for sale.

It is useful in many spheres, including the political one, to explain complicated concepts in a few words. In Australia, we had a recent prime minister who became a legend in reducing arguments to three word slogans. Nevertheless, when a concept to such an extreme, one might end up with a caricature containing enough truth to be credible, but in fact be purposely uni-dimensional to convince you to quickly take a position without actually considering the pros and cons. The Maltese have a relevant saying, translated roughly to ‘get a label and go to bed’.

Every country has its laws around citizenship, and if it permits citizenship by naturalisation (that is the grant of citizenship other than by being born in the country to citizens of that country), under which circumstances this is granted.

For example, in Australia there are several routes which lead to citizenship by naturalisation for non-citizens. The first step is to get permanent residence under one of many classifications, like being the partner or being married to a citizen (sub-class 920/801); people with specific skills (sub-class 189/190) and interestingly for our discussion today, an investor (classes 888/890/891/892/893), amongst others.

After four years of residence, the last of which as a permanent resident, one can apply for Australian citizenship.2

Examples of the classes of permanent residency obtainable as an investor in Australia are the investment of $1.5 million for 4 years (sub-class 891), $750,000 for 4 years (sub-class 893); and in one particular class even no minimum investment except having a business in Australia for 2 years together with sponsorship by a state or territory (sub-class 892).3

Here in Australia I have to say there is none of the furore about citizenship for sale that I read about in Malta, and in Europe when the subject is Malta.

Other European countries having similar schemes to Malta are Cyprus (where the applicant needs to be ready to invest $2 million)4 and Austria (where a substantial investment is expected, residence is not necessary and the granting of citizenship remains a secret)5, both being partner countries to Malta in the European Union. It is interesting that the Maltese scheme is the only one in Europe approved by the EU.

Does this mean that the fears often mentioned and the criticism levelled at the Maltese scheme are all unjustified? Not necessarily.

Let’s take an example. One of the fears is that the Maltese scheme can be used by those with a criminal past to enter Malta and possibly other countries in the EU. On the other hand, Malta’s IIP requires a police certificate from Malta and the applicant’s originating country, the applicant not facing the International Criminal Court, be sought by the International Police Organisation (Interpol), and not having been found guilty of criminal acts, amongst others.

It is possible that these precautions are not enough, and more can be taken, such as an increase in transparency and independent oversight. If mistakes are made, corrective actions need to be taken and perhaps the scheme amended. If agents act unprofessionally and/or corruptly, they need to be deregistered as concessionaires. However is the solution to abolish the scheme? Which system is perfect?

Another criticism was that the IIP is so profitable that the country becomes dependent on the revenue it raises. It’s true that the scheme is lucrative, and then some – in the first two years up to 2016, the scheme had already raised €200 million for Malta.6 This is serious money for a country the size of Malta, and so this fear is justified in my view. Nevertheless, this is an argument for diversification of the economy, not against the scheme itself.

On this subject, a Labour supporter would not even consider the possibility of problems. For a Nationalist supporter, the scheme’s success is clear proof of stench and corruption. When will I ever have a mature political discussion with a fellow Maltese?

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Waħda mill-kwestjonijiet politiċi l-iktar li jaħarqu f’Malta hija madwar il-Programm tal-Investitur Individwali (Individual Investor Programme – IIP).1 Din hija skema li ddaħħlet mill-gvern Laburista Malti fil-2014 li biha persuna mhux ċittadin Malti jtista’ jtapplika għal ċ-ċittadinanza Maltija (u bħala konsegwenza libertà tal-moviment fl-Unjoni Ewropeja), jekk ikun lesta li, fost l-oħrajn:

•jakkwista proprjeta ta’ valur ta’ €350,000 jew jikri proprjeta bi ħlas ta’ €16,000 fis-sena, u jiżommha għal ħames snin u ma jikrihiex lil ħaddieħor;
•jikkontribwixxi mill-inqas €650,000 lill-Fond għall-Iżvilupp Nazzjonali u Soċjali, b’kontribuzzjonijiet oħra mistennija minn kull membru ieħor tal-familja tal-applikant;
•investimenti finanzjarji oħra ta’ $150,000 oħra li jridu jinżammu għal ħames snin;
•ikollhom assigurazzjoni fuq is-saħħa;
•ikunu b’saħħithom medikament;
•ikunu ta’ kondotta tajba.

Applikant li jkun approvat fil-prinċipju, ikun irid jistabbilixxi residenza f’Malta għal tnax-il xahar qabel ma jingħata ċ-ċittadinanza naturalizzata.

Huwa ċar li dan il-programm huwa intenzjonat għal nies sinjuri, u jinvolvi l-għoti taċ-ċittadinanza Maltija b’kundizzjoni li jsiru transazzjonijiet li jammontaw għal madwar miljun Ewro lejn Malta. B’dawn il-flejjes kbar jibdlu l-idejn, huwa faċli li jinftieħem it-timbru ta’ ċittadinanza għall-bejgħ.

Huwa utli f’ħafna oqsma, inkluż fil-politika, li tfiehem kunċett ikkumplikat fi ftit kliem. Fl-Awstralja, kellna prim ministru riċenti li sar leġġendarju f’li jirriduċi argument għal tliet kliem biss (three word slogans). Madankollu meta tissimplifika kunċett b’dan il-mod estrem, ħafna drabi tispiċċa b’karikatura li jkollha biżżejjed verità fiha biex tkun kredibbli, imma tkun uni-dimensjonali intenzjonalment sabiex tikkonvinċik tieħu pożizzjoni malajr mingħajr ma tqis sewwa il-kif u x-x’fatta. Kif jgħid il-Malti, ħu l-fama u mur orqod.

Kull pajjiż għandu l-liġijiet tiegħu taċ-ċittadinanza, u jekk jippermetti ċ-ċittadinanza naturalizzata (jiġifieri li tingħata ċ-ċittadinanza lil min mhux tal-post), taħt liema ċirkostanzi din tingħata.

Per eżempju, fl-Awstralja hawn diversi toroq li jwasslu għal ċittadinanza naturalizzata għal min mhux ċittadin. L-ewwel pass huwa li ġġib residenza permanenti taħt waħda mill-ħafna klassifikazzjonijiet, bħal per eżempju sieħeb/sieħba/miżżewweġ/miżżewġa ta’ persuna ċittadina (klassi 820/801); persuna b’abbiltà f’xi sengħa relevanti (klassi 189/190); u interessanti għas-suġġett li qed niddiskutu, investitur (klassi 888/890/891/892/893), apparti oħrajn.

Wara erba’ snin ta’ residenza, l-aħħar sena bħala resident permanenti, wieħed jista’ japplika għal ċittadinanza Awstraljana.2

Eżempji tal-klassijiet ta’ residenza permanenti bħala investitur fl-Awstralja huma l-investiment ta’ $1.5 miljun għal erba’ snin (klassi 891); $750,000 għal erba’ snin (klassi 893); u f’klassi minnhom saħansitra l-ebda minimu ta’ investiment ħlief li jkollok negozju fl-Awstralja għal sentejn basta tkun sponsorjat minn stat jew territorju (klassi 892).3

Hawnhekk fl-Awstralja jkolli ngħid li m’hawnx il-furur dwar bejgħ taċ-ċittadinanza li naqra dwarha f’Malta, u fl-Ewropa meta s-suġġett ikun Malta.

Pajjiżi oħra fl-Ewropa li għandhom skemi simili għal dawk ta’ Malta huma Ċipru (fejn l-applikant irid ikun lest jinvesti €2 miljuni)4 u l-Awstrija (fejn investiment sostanzjali huwa mistenni, ir-residenza mhix neċessarja u l-għotja taċ-ċittadinanza tibqa’ sigrieta)5, it-tnejn pajjiżi sħab Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropeja. Interessanti li l-iskema ta’ Malta hija l-unika waħda fl-Ewropa li kisbet l-approvazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropeja

Dan ifisser li l-biżgħat li jissemmew u l-kritika li ssir għall-iskema Maltija huma kollha inġustikabbli? Mhux neċessarjament.

Ejjew nieħdu eżempju. Waħda mill-biżgħat li smajt hija li l-iskema ta’ Malta tista’ tintuża minn nies b’passat kriminali biex jidħlu f’Malta u possibilment fil-pajjiżi l-oħra tal-Unjoni Ewropeja. Mill-banda l-oħra, l-iskema IIP ta’ Malta tirrikjedi ċertifikati tal-pulizija ta’ Malta u tal-pajjiż minn fejn ġej l-applikant, li ma jkunx deher quddiem il-Qorti Internazzjonali Kriminali, li mhux imfittex mill-organizzazzjoni internazzjonali tal-pulizija INTERPOL, mhux misjub ħati ta’ atti kriminali, fost l-oħrajn.

Jista’ jkun li dawn il-prekawzjonijiet mhumiex biżżejjed, u jistgħu jittieħdu oħrajn, bħal żieda fit-trasparenza u sorveljanza indipendenti. Jekk isiru żbalji, iridu jittieħdu passi korrettivi u forsi l-iskema tiġi ammendata. Jekk aġenti jaġixxu b’mod mhux professjonali u/jew b’mod korrott, jridu jiġu ddereġistrati bħala konċessjonarji. Però s-soluzzjoni tkun li l-iskema nnifisha titneħħa? Liema sistema hija perfetta?

Kritika oħra kienet li l-IIP tant trendi li l-pajjiż sar dipendenti mill-introjtu li ddaħħal. Huwa veru li l-iskema trendi, u ħafna wkoll – fl-ewwel sentejn sal-2016 l-iskema kienet rendiet €200 miljun għal Malta.6 Dawn huma flejjes sinjifikanti għal pajjiż tad-daqs ta’ Malta, u għalhekk din il-biża’ hija ġġustifikata fl-opinjoni tiegħi. Madankollu, dan huwa argument favur id-diversifikazzjoni tal-ekonomija, mhux argument kontra l-iskema fiha innifisha.

Fuq dan is-suġġett, min jitqies Laburist, lanqas jikkunsidra l-possibiltà ta’ problemi. Għal min jitqies Nazzjonalist, is-suċċess tal-iskema hija prova ċara ta’ ħmieġ u korruzzjoni. Meta se jkolli diskussjoni politika matura ma’ Maltin bħali?

1Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap.188); Individual Investor Programme of the Republic of Malta Regulations, 2014

2https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/citi/pathways-processes/application-options/migrant-with-permanent-residence/eligibility, retrieved 26/2/2018

3https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1

4https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-cyprus-citizenship/, retrieved 27/2/2018