Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday assured members of the diplomatic corps that Malta would be a model of best practice in due diligence when granting citizenship to foreigners.
In exercising its sovereign right as a nation, Malta would respect its duties and obligations “to the fullest”, he said.
“We have opened a new road to economic growth through the citizenship by investment programme. Successful applications will strengthen our economy by bringing direct investment through a very limited number of people whose worthiness will have undergone the highest level of scrutiny,” he said.
We have opened a new road to economic growth
He was speaking during the annual exchange of New Year greetings with ambassadors and consuls accredited to Malta.
Reference to the controversial citizenship scheme, which was also debated at the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday, came in the context of the global economic crisis that continues to rage on.
Dr Muscat said his government was determined to “spare no effort” to build a strong economy and a fairer society which addressed the aspirations of the Maltese people and rewarded their determination to succeed.
He said the change in government in the last election in March had marked “a fresh beginning” for the country. On an EU level, Dr Muscat said his government stood by its partners and remained committed to making the alliance work at a time when “emotions against Europe were riding a high”.
Referring to the installation of Pope Francis, Dr Muscat highlighted the Pontiff’s message on the need to address social exclusion and poverty. “Ending extreme poverty is ambitious but we remain committed to pull together with our international partners to make this a reality across the globe.”
He spoke on the Geneva agreement between Iran and six world powers and the conflicts in Syria, now entering the third year.
Turning to “illegal immigration”, a phenomenon which Malta faces “year after year”, Dr Muscat said 2013 would be remembered for the tragedies that took place in the Mediterranean Sea when hundreds of people perished while trying to reach Europe.
“We do not need any more tragedies in this New Year. For things to happen, we need to pool all our resources and work together to achieve what would be in the best interest of the immigrants themselves and that of the countries of origin and the receiving states too,” he said.
This subject was also raised by President George Abela in his address to the diplomats earlier.
He said: “I reiterate that my country cannot handle on its own this influx of migrants and remains committed towards a viable and holistic solution that will safeguard the rights of migrants at all times while addressing the difficulties encountered by countries of origin and transit.”