Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Commission has terminated the infringement procedure linked to Cyprus’s citizenship-by-investment programme, ending a legal dispute with Brussels over the scheme known as the “golden passports” programme.
Infringement case and EU law concerns
The case concerned the Cyprus investment programme, which allowed affluent foreign investors to obtain Cypriot citizenship and access rights within the European Union. The commission had ruled that granting citizenship in exchange for investment violated EU law, prompting the formal infringement process against Cyprus.
Scheme closure and follow-up actions
Cyprus shut down the scheme abruptly in 2020 following intense international criticism and scrutiny. Authorities in Nicosia subsequently introduced legislative amendments, launched investigations into how passports were granted, and began revoking citizenships found to have been improperly issued.
Legal service response and cooperation with EU authorities
In a statement, the legal service described the commission’s decision as “a very positive development for Cyprus,” saying the closure reflects measures taken by the state to restore compliance with EU law. The legal service said the matter had been handled from the outset in cooperation with European authorities and referred to the appointment of former supreme court judge Myron Nikolatos’ investigative committee in September 2020.
Investigative findings and revocations
The legal service said findings from the Nikolatos committee, together with those of the Kalogirou committee, led the cabinet to begin stripping citizenship from a number of recipients linked to irregularities.
Meetings with European counterparts
Senior officials held meetings with European counterparts aimed at resolving the dispute. Attorney-general George Savvides and deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides met in 2021 and 2023 with then European justice commissioner Didier Reynders, while a further review of Cyprus’s actions took place in Brussels in June 2025 with Reynders’ successor, Michael McGrath.
What do you think the closure of the infringement procedure will mean for Cyprus’s future handling of citizenship cases?
