Browne Cabinet agrees to EU and UK proposals to refocus CIP on citizenship and not passports

The Gaston Browne Administration is now pledging to revamp the
Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) based on requests by
the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

These requests include an end to promoting the country’s passport
and a re-focus on the citizenship aspect of the programme.  
During its meeting on Wednesday, August 2, the Cabinet reportedly
held extensive discussions on the CIP and the purported attacks the
European Union and The U.K. appear to have launched against the
OECS States that operate these programmes. 

The EU, according to this week’s Cabinet Notes, has made a number
of proposals of which Antigua and Barbuda approves. 
One such recommendation is for the affected States return the
minimum investment threshold to US$200,000. 

Antigua and Barbuda’s minimum is now US$100,000. 
Secondly, countries are being asked to change the minimum value of
their real-estate investment to US$400,000 – but that is already the
local standard. 

The EU proposals also require that States submit the names of
citizenship applicants to their police agency, the Cabinet Notes say.

It was noted that several OECS/CIP States have expressed a lack of
faith in any promise by The EU not to create barriers that would
make their programme less competitive. 

Dominica became the first casualty of threats made by The EU and
The UK on account of the management of its Citizenship by
Investment programme.

Holders of Dominican passports are now required to apply for and
acquire a visa before entering The UK.

Antigua and Barbuda says it has not been informed officially of any
visa restrictions or given a timeline by which any such policy would
be implemented.