The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has confirmed receipt of an official letter from the European Commission demanding that the National Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program be phased out by June 1, 2028. The relevant request was sent to Prime Minister Gaston Browne on June 25 and was justified by the new EU visa mechanism adopted at the end of 2025. According to this mechanism, the very existence of such programs is now considered sufficient grounds for suspending the visa-free regime with the country.
Prime Minister Brown said that this development did not come as a surprise: the authorities knew about the upcoming letters in advance and had already begun consultations at the regional level. He also stressed that all ECO (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) member states with CBI programs, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as Saint Lucia, received similar notifications. Thus, the pressure from Brussels is systemic and is directed not only against Antigua and Barbuda.
In an official response, the island Government took a tough stance: the CBI program is a critically important source of non-tax revenue, and its cancellation is impossible without providing specific and reliable substitute financing mechanisms. The Prime Minister unequivocally promised to continue implementing the program, stressing that a unilateral rejection of it would cause irreparable damage to the economy and social well-being of citizens.
The authorities of Antigua and Barbuda recall that over the years of the CBI's existence, funds from the program have been used to build hospitals, schools, infrastructure facilities and disaster relief measures. For a small island nation with high vulnerability to climate change and limited fiscal space, these revenues are vital. Therefore, any agreement with the EU, according to the government, should include tangible financial assistance from the union to compensate for income.
As a gesture of goodwill, Antigua and Barbuda is ready to tighten the procedures for verifying applicants, exclude all persons subject to EU sanctions lists from the program, and introduce additional security guarantees. However, these steps do not mean a willingness to abandon the CBI as a whole. The Government intends to continue dialogue with the European Commission, but insists that negotiations should be conducted on the principles of mutual respect and consideration of the sovereign interests of the islands.
Diplomatic consultations are currently underway both bilaterally and within the framework of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (ECO). The authorities promise to inform the public about the progress of the negotiations as they develop. In the meantime, St. John's position remains unchanged: the citizenship by investment program will be maintained, and any changes are possible only if fully compensated by the European Union.
Source: Antigua News
