Do you even know citizenship by investment already runs in two EU candidate countries?
EU candidate countries have a great prospect of becoming a member state of the European Union in the future, as a part of enlargement efforts pursued by the Union. Imagine Montenegro or Albania becoming EU member state
There are 5 EU candidate countries, of these two countries (Montenegro and Turkey) have already has CBI programs running, while Albania is considering to launch a CBI program which may well be coming soon. North Macedonia already explored launching CBI scheme in 2018, for 400,000 euros, a prospect for a future CBI program is still there.
Becoming a full EU member state is no easy task for these countries. It probably will take many years to these countries to negotiate with the EU implementing all necessary EU legislation, but it will certainly happen. It is just a matter of time!
Why invest in a citizenship in a EU candidate country?
The Simple answer Citizenship gets much more valuable. Consider it an upgrade for your citizenship status becoming a EU citizen. Once the candidate achieves EU membership, real estate and other market prices expected to rise steadily.
- Equal rights and opportunities
- Full EU citizenship rights
- Better healthcare, education
- Access to one single EU market to invest and do business.
- Passport gets more powerful with more visa free access
- Real estate becomes valuable and expensive
Investing in a passport will probably be the best future investment for your family.
How many EU candidate countries are there?
There are five EU candidate countries. These are countries that are already in the process of incorporating EU legislation into national law.
1. Turkey*
2. Montenegro*
3. North Macedonia
4. Serbia
5. Albania*
*These countries already offer citizenship by investment programs. Albania considering to launch a CBI in the future.
Map of EU candidate and potential candidate countries.
Montenegro
Montenegro is a very strong lead candidate to meet the 2025 accession date suggested by the European Commission’s new 2018 enlargement strategy among the other aspirants in the western balkans. Montenegro also expressed interest to join schengen area in the future after becoming EU member state. Montenegro is in a leading position on its path towards EU accession, compared to the other five aspirants from the Western Balkans. Montenegro is not a eurozone member but uses euro as national currency.
Montenegro submitted the application for EU membership in December 2008. The candidate status was granted on 17 December 2010. The opening of accession negotiations took place in June 2012. Following the screening process, Montenegro needs to fulfil an opening benchmark before accession negotiations for Chapter 27 -Environment can be opened.
Albania
Albania applied for the EU membership in April 2009 and received the candidate status in June 2014. Progress in the accession process will depend on achievements in few key areas such as fight against corruption and organised crime, reform of judicial system and constructive and sustainable political dialogue between government and opposition.
North Macedonia
The Republic of North Macedonia was declared a candidate country in December 2005. Opening of negotiations will depend on the progress made in aligning with the EU acquis. The Commission recommended that negotiations for accession to the European Union should be opened. However, the on-going name dispute with Greece is hampering further progress.
Serbia
Serbia applied for the candidate country status in December 2009. The candidate country status was granted in March 2012. On 21 January 2014, the first Intergovernmental Conference took place, signaling the formal start of Serbia’s accession negotiations. The screening exercise for Chapter 27 – Environment took place in 2014 and the screening report has been adopted by the Council in December 2016 without an opening benchmark. Serbia has been invited by the Presidency in December 2016 to submit its negotiating position for Chapter 27.
Turkey
Turkey was declared a candidate country in December 1999. Negotiation talks were opened on 3 October 2005 and Chapter 27 was open for negotiations on 21 December 2009. Technical discussions are on-going in areas such as water, waste, nature protection or horizontal legislation.
Dont forget about Potential Candidates
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have a clear prospect of joining the EU in the future but have not yet been granted candidate country status.
Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted in February 2016 its application to join the EU. In September 2016, the Council invited the Commission to present an Opinion on BiH application. The Opinion is currently under preparation.
Kosovo’s authorities declared independence on 17 February 2008. The European Union took note of the declaration of independence, left to the Member States to decide on the recognition and asked the Commission to enhance the cooperation with Kosovo. The Stabilization and Association Agreement between EU and Kosovo has been initiated in July 2014 and entered into force in April 2016.
