EU gives OECS countries deadline to phase out CBI programmes
The five Eastern Caribbean states with active Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes, have been given until June 1, 2028 to phase out their programmes. This was revealed in a post on the Facebook page of the Office of the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne in which he said letter was received, dated June 25, 2026, signed by EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, and addressed to Prime Minister the Right Honourable Gaston Browne.
In that letter, the European Commission formally requested that Antigua and Barbuda phase out its CBI Programme by the stated date. The EU decision is not directed at Antigua and Barbuda alone, but to all OECS member states with active CBI programmes. The other four countries- Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis and Saint Lucia, have received similar correspondence from the European Commission.
The EU grounded its request in a revised Visa Suspension Mechanism adopted by the Union on December 31, 2025. Under this new framework, the mere operation of a CBI programme, regardless of how well it is managed, is now a self-standing ground for suspending visa-free access.
The Commission’s letter offers a 24-month transition period and proposes the implementation of specific interim measures. These measures include the full exclusion of individuals subject to EU restrictive measures, as well as reinforced vetting procedures for all nationalities, to be in place no later than September, 2026.
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