Tag: Al Jazeera

EU passports are highly prized as they give their owners the right to travel, live, and work freely in all 27 members of the union. Unfortunately, some countries such as Cyprus and Malta sell citizenships and thus EU passports as part of investment programs for the sole benefit of these countries. Most recently, Al Jazeera has revealed that Cyprus is also offering its "Golden Passport" scheme to convicted criminals and money launderers. Now the EU is finally intervening.

The EU member Cyprus and the Republic of Vanuatu have some things in common that they probably should not have in common. Apart from the fact that both are island states - Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea and Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean - both are willing to sell citizenship and passports, register companies, and sell financial licenses.