Licensed Agents Introductory Meeting
Following his appointment as CEO of Community Malta Agency, Mr Joseph Mizzi took the opportunity to introduce himself to all duly Licensed Agents and their representatives by holding this meeting.
Mr Charles Mizzi, CEO of Residency Malta Agency, was also invited to address the meeting given that Licensed Agents are also authorised to submit applications on behalf of an individual in terms of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26) of the Immigration Act (Cap. 217).
Mr Joseph Mizzi assured the Agents that the processing of applications related to the granting of Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (ESDI) shall continue to be implemented. Following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the operations of the Agency over the last couple of years, significant interest has now been registered in the number of requests for residence and eligibility applications. This outcome is proof of the crucial role Licensed Agents play in the promotion of such an avenue for the grant of citizenship in line with the relative regulations and the code of conduct.
Reference was made to the Reasoned Opinion which the European Commission addressed to the Government of Malta last April 2022. The Government maintains its position that the granting of citizenship falls within the national competence of a Member State and it should remain as such. That being said, it was reiterated that only worthy individuals benefit from an important right as citizenship on such basis. Government is currently analysing the contents of the said Opinion and will communicate the relative reply to the European Commission in due course.
Following Mr Charles Mizzi’s communication of updates to the attendees in relation to the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and the Nomad Residence Permit, a lengthy exchange of observations and ideas between the Licensed Agents and the Agencies’ CEOs rendered a very productive meeting. Further meetings will be held in the future.