Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535109
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 MAY 2025 NEWS MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Grech says golden passport scheme should ensure applicants are 'proud to be Maltese' Opposition leader Bernard Grech says that it is unacceptable that applicants for citizenship by investments insist on keeping their status as Maltese citizens hidden from the public. PN leader Bernard Grech has pledged that a government led by him would operate a golden passport scheme that would ensure applicants are "proud to be Maltese." Doorstepped outside parliament on Monday, Grech stated that citizenship through investment "should not be a simple transaction of money." Last week, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Malta's golden passport scheme infringes EU law and amounts to "the commercialisation of the grant of nationality of a member state," and by extension, EU citizenship. Malta's golden passport scheme was launched in 2014 and gave wealthy in- dividuals the chance to obtain Maltese, and by extension EU citizenship in ex- change for hefty payments and invest- ments. Throughout its lifetime, more than 5,000 people were given Maltese citi- zenship through the programme, and generated over €1.4 billion. On Monday, opposition leader Ber- nard Grech said that it is unacceptable that applicants for citizenship by in- vestments insist on keeping their sta- tus as Maltese citizens hidden from the public. Another condition for the programme according to Grech is that applicants must strengthen, not tarnish Malta's reputation. Crucially, Grech explained that ap- plicants must have a "genuine" link to Malta. "You cannot create that genuine link by pretending to live in the coun- try," he stated. PN leader Bernard Grech was doorstepped by journalists on Monday (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday) Cassola questions whether Israel told Malta to not allow vessel access to territorial waters KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt MOMENTUM chairperson Arnold Cassola said on Tues- day the government received a request from Israel in the days preceding the attack on the Conscience to not allow the vessel access to Maltese terri- tory. "In this respect, can Robert Abela confirm that, in the days preceding the attack on the hu- manitarian ship Conscience, the Israeli government sent an official written request to the government of Malta in- forming that the vessel did not have current certification and therefore was requesting that the Maltese authorities either do not allow the vessel access to Maltese waters and harbours or else that Malta allows it in- to our waters and detains it?" Cassola said. He insisted clear answers on the part of the Prime Minister will contribute in dispelling any speculation and will help people make their conclusions on the basis of concrete and hard facts. The Conscience, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coali- tion, was en route to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid amid the worsening crisis in the Palestinian territory. The ship sustained heavy damage during a reported drone strike on Fri- day, leaving it without electric- ity and leaking water. Activists say it is currently unable to navigate and urgently requires repairs. On Monday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said a Maltese surveyor had been allowed aboard the vessel Conscience following discussions between government representatives and Freedom Flotilla Coalition representatives. Cassola questioned whether the PM was selectively leaving out information when speaking to journalists on Monday after- The humanitarian vessel Conscience was targeted in a suspected drone attack on Friday just outside Maltese territorial waters