The EPP Group has expressed deep concern over the new Maltese citizenship scheme because it automatically entails the outright sale of EU citizenship as a whole without any residency requirement. “Such an outright sale of EU citizenship undermines the mutual trust upon which the Union is built”, said the EPP Group Spokeswoman in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Véronique Mathieu-Houillon MEP.

"I am deeply shocked by the decision of the Maltese Government to sell passports without even a residency requirement and I wonder what they want to achieve with such a reform: an open-door policy to money laundering?", said Ms Mathieu-Houillon.

"Not only does it not bring any benefits to the Maltese citizens, it also undermines European citizenship."

"European citizenship entails rights and duties. It materialises our common project and it is one of the pillars of the European Union. European citizenship is not just another commodity that can be sold. The Maltese Government is betraying the mutual trust enjoyed between the European Member States, something that we have been trying to build for many years", she continued.

Maltese MEP, Roberta Metsola, said: "Rights are not for sale. They cannot be bought and sold. To be European should not depend on how deep your pockets are. The selling of citizenship for mere cash dilutes the true value and worth of the citizenship we are so proud of. Each citizenship sold in this cheap fashion is an impingement on the rights of each and every one of our citizens."