The heads of government of the five Eastern Caribbean states that operate citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) programmes met in Roseau, Dominica, on 10 July and issued a joint statement that outlines a coordinated response to the European Commission’s demand that the programmes be phased out by 1 June 2028.
Joint diplomatic mission
The leaders – Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit (Dominica), Philip J. Pierre (Saint Lucia), Gaston Browne (Antigua & Barbuda), Dickon Mitchell (Grenada) and Dr. Terrance Drew (Saint Kitts & Nevis) – agreed to send a high‑level delegation to Brussels “at the earliest appropriate opportunity.” The mission will meet the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and will be supported by a coordinated outreach programme to key European capitals.
Foreign ministers, CBI‑responsible ministers, ambassadors and senior officials have been instructed to present a unified regional position in all engagements with European counterparts.
Core demands
The statement stresses that CBI programmes are a major source of “economic resilience and development financing” for the small island developing states, funding climate‑resilience projects, disaster recovery, infrastructure and fiscal stability while reducing reliance on external borrowing. Accordingly, the leaders demand that any transition:
- include a comprehensive framework that safeguards economic stability,
- protect development gains already achieved,
- provide sustainable alternative sources of financing, and
- be accompanied by “enhanced development cooperation, strategic investment partnerships, climate‑resilience financing, economic diversification initiatives,” among other measures.
The leaders note that, to date, the EU has not offered “quantified, binding, or explicitly framed” replacement revenues.
What the statement omits
The joint communiqué does not reference the 1 June 2028 deadline, the Schengen area, or the interim vetting measures the Commission reportedly requires by September 2026. It also does not echo Antigua & Barbuda’s earlier declaration that the country “will not be pressured” into a unilateral phase‑out.
EU visa‑suspension mechanism
- 30 December 2025 – The revised EU visa‑suspension mechanism entered into force, adding investor‑citizenship programmes as a ground for suspending a country’s visa‑free access to the Schengen area.
- June 2025 (eighth report) – The European Commission reported that Caribbean CBI programmes constitute a suspension ground and called for tighter vetting “pending the discontinuation” of the programmes.
- 25 June 2025 – EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner sent letters offering a 24‑month transition period. All five CBI states confirmed receipt.
- December 2026 – The Commission will publish its next visa‑suspension report, which will incorporate the Caribbean states’ responses.
Regional regulatory response
The five participating states point to the establishment of a regional CBI regulatory authority as evidence of “harmonised regulation, enhanced compliance, and continuous improvement.” This regulator is intended to demonstrate the region’s commitment to due‑diligence, information sharing and transparency.
Inclusion of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Although Saint Vincent & the Grenadines is not yet operating a CBI programme, its Prime Minister Godwin Friday attended the summit, signalling the country’s interest in entering the market and its alignment with the collective regional stance.
The joint statement frames the discussion as a negotiation over the terms of a transition rather than a rejection of the EU’s phase‑out demand, emphasizing a desire for “balanced and durable solutions” that respect both EU policy objectives and the development needs of the Caribbean states.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
