The spokeswoman for the European Commission, Ana Pisonero-Hernandez, talks to DW about the potential risks of implementing the Tirana government's project to grant citizenship to foreigners who can invest in Albania.

DW: What are the provisions of the EU legislation, with which the project of the government of Tirana, for the granting of Albanian citizenship to foreigners who can invest in Albania, i.e. the granting of the so-called, "golden passports", contradicts?

Ana Pisonero-Hernandez: The EU respects the right of sovereign countries to decide on how to grant citizenship. At the same time, the current context of Russian aggression against Ukraine further highlights the dangers that citizenship schemes pose to foreign investors and the need for immediate steps. These are programs that offer citizenship in exchange for a predetermined payment or investment and with no real connection to the country in question.

DW: Mrs. Pisoreno-Hermandez, you just mentioned the risks, but what are they if this project, despite the warnings of the EC, will move towards implementation?

Ana Pisonero-Hernandez: Risks include organized crime infiltration, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption through potential applicants from third countries. The Commission considers these schemes in violation of EU law and has started in 2020 the procedures against the member states that have violated this law. Due to the prospect of future EU citizenship, the nationality of candidate countries may become increasingly attractive to investors.

DW: The EU officially opened the accession negotiations with Albania in July of this year, precisely with the analytical review of the Albanian legislation, with the goal/perennial request that the national legislation be in line with that of the EU. According to the new EU enlargement strategy, the membership process is reversible if there is no progress in fulfilling the requirements of this process. Does this project's conflict with EU law constitute such a possibility?

Ana Pisonero-Hernandez: The EU is monitoring, in the framework of the EU membership process, any plans from the candidate countries to introduce citizenship schemes. We are currently preparing the next annual reports of the expansion package, which are expected to be presented in October.

DW: EU Foreign Ministers will meet this week, on Wednesday, August 31, in Prague to discuss the arrest by the State Police of two Russians, a Ukrainian and four Czechs who wanted to photograph the two weapons factories in Albania, in Gramsh and Poliçan. Both of these incidents show that the EU's warnings about the dangers to Albania's national security, in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, are real and well-founded. What are the EU's expectations from this meeting? Will the issue of "Golden Passports" from Albania be part of the agenda of this meeting?

Ana Pisonero-Hernandez: We are following the announcements about the incident at the military facility in Gramsh. We await a full investigation by the relevant Albanian authorities, which has already begun. First of all, we wish the two wounded Albanian soldiers a speedy recovery. Albania and the EU have a close partnership on security issues.