Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne says a new European Union visa suspension mechanism allows visa-free travel to be withdrawn from countries solely because they operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes, regardless of the safeguards those programmes have in place.
Speaking on behalf of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) during a regional press conference, Browne outlined the implications of a letter received from the European Commission, dated June 25, 2026, requesting that participating countries phase out their CBI programmes by June 1, 2028.
According to Browne, the Commission has proposed a 24-month transition period while urging affected countries to implement a series of interim measures. However, he stressed that Citizenship by Investment programmes remain a critical source of non-tax revenue for several Eastern Caribbean economies and cannot simply be discontinued without practical alternatives.
“The CBI programmes are critical pillars of the OECS-CBI countries’ non-tax base, and they cannot simply be abandoned without viable, concrete and credible replacement revenues being made available,” Browne said.
He noted that Eastern Caribbean governments have significantly strengthened the governance of their investment migration programmes in recent years through enhanced due diligence procedures and the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, which is intended to improve transparency, accountability and international confidence.
Despite those reforms, Browne said the European Union’s revised visa suspension mechanism, which came into effect on December 31, 2025, introduces a new standard under which the operation of a Citizenship by Investment programme alone may be considered sufficient grounds for suspending visa-free access.
“Under this new framework, the mere operation of the CBI programme, regardless of how well it is managed, is now a self-standing ground for suspension of visa-free access,” he stated.
Browne also urged observers not to interpret the EU’s position as evidence of misconduct by regional governments, emphasising that the policy applies irrespective of the management standards adopted by participating countries.
OECS leaders are expected to continue discussions on a coordinated regional response while maintaining dialogue with European officials. They argue that the economic contribution of Citizenship by Investment programmes, combined with strengthened regulatory oversight, warrants continued engagement rather than blanket measures that could significantly affect the economies and citizens of small island developing states.
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