EU Justice commissioner Vera Jourova has cautioned Montenegro with risks associated on money laundering with Montenegro’s new economic citizenship programme.
During the discussion with Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, she welcomed Montenegro to the EU Justice programme.
Met Zoran Pažin, Deputy Prime Minister of #Montenegro. I am pleased to welcome Montenegro to the Justice Programme https://t.co/bOsnMXAXaJ . We also discussed the need to fight #moneylaundering. I advised caution on economic citizenship. pic.twitter.com/GXVNVoi4UH
— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) October 4, 2018
The Montenegro Government earlier announced limited citizenship by investment programme will commence in Oct/Nov 2018, requiring 250K euro investment in Montenegro. The Government will develop rules and regulations inhouse and said it will not allow any outside influence.
Government of #Montenegro will not allow any non-institutional interference in economic citizenship programme, process will be implemented within institutions. Government did not seek any external consultations at this stage of process.
https://t.co/f50Z2NlBkn— Govt. of Montenegro (@MeGovernment) October 2, 2018
PM Markovic said in Concordia summit in New York citizenship program will transform tourism, develop infrastructure and create new jobs..
“By introducing the programme of economic citizenship, we want to position Montenegro as the most prestigious tourist destination in the North Mediterranean. We want to transform our resources, with private money, into the potential for the country. We want to focus public money and state funds on strengthening our financial potential and stability. Thus, economic citizenship programme will help invest in projects that have started, develop our infrastructure, thus creating new jobs and making our beautiful country accessible to wealthy citizens from all around the world. They are present in Montenegro at the moment. But we want them to stay in Montenegro and bring some new ones with them,” said Prime Minister Marković, hopeful that the model of economic citizenship will be promoted and available to all who want to start and develop their business and live in Montenegro in October or at the latest by mid-November.
The EU Justice programme shall contribute to the further development of areas in Montenegro where equality and the rights of persons, as enshrined in the Treaty, the Charter and international human rights conventions, are promoted and protected. Its nine specific objectives are to:
- Promote non–discrimination
- Combat racism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance
- Promote rights of persons with disabilities
- Promote equality between women and men and gender mainstreaming
- Prevent violence against children, young people, women and other groups at risk (Daphne)
- Promote the rights of the child
- Ensure the highest level of data protection
- Promote the rights deriving from Union citizenship
- Enforce consumer rights
