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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2024)0365 – C100008/2024 – 2024/0128(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 as regards Vanuatu

LIBE-PR-764972

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Paulo Cunha

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The draft report concerns a Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 to remove Vanuatu from the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement. The rapporteur supports the proposal without amendments.

Committee position. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal and supports its speedy adoption without amendments.

Key points

  1. The report adopts the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 as regards Vanuatu, removing its visa exemption.
  2. Vanuatu's citizenship by investment programs allow foreign investors to obtain citizenship for a minimum investment of $130,000, with no residence or visit requirement and processing in as little as three months.
  3. The programs have serious deficiencies: very low rejection rate, lack of physical presence requirements, insufficient background checks, and no systematic information exchange with applicants' countries of origin.
  4. Some individuals who obtained citizenship were on international watch lists, and the EU suspended Vanuatu's visa-free access partially in 2022 and fully in February 2023.
  5. Vanuatu has shown inadequate cooperation with the Commission and continues to issue visas to Russian citizens amid the aggression in Ukraine, undermining EU efforts.
  6. The rapporteur considers the removal of Vanuatu from the visa-free list proportionate and justified to protect EU borders.

Who is affected

  • Nationals of Vanuatu: would lose visa-free access to the EU for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
  • Foreign investors seeking Vanuatu citizenship through investment programs: their ability to obtain visa-free access to the EU would be affected.

Figures and deadlines

  • $130,000 minimum investment required for Vanuatu citizenship by investment.
  • Processing can be completed in as little as three months.
  • Visa-free stays limited to no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

Legal basis: Article 77(2), point (a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union