A week ago, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered the much-anticipated judgement in Case Number C-181/23.  The reactions to the judgement, both within and outside the European Union, have been, to put it mildly, mixed and varied.

The intention here is not to enter into the merits of whether the Court’s decision was right or wrong, whether the Court should have placed more weight on the AG’s Opinion or whether the European Commission or the Maltese Government had the more legally robust arguments.  A lot has already been said by various commentators across the globe, and the debate will most probably linger for the coming months and beyond.  Divergent opinions and debate were always to be expected to arise whatever the outcome of the judgement was going to be.

The bottom line is that the judgement is final and binding with no right of appeal, regardless of how much one agrees or disagrees with Court’s legal reasoning and motivations.  Furthermore, the Government of Malta has already confirmed that it will respect the judgement but also that the legal implications of the judgement are being studied in detail, so that the regulatory framework on citizenship can then be brought in line with the principles outlined in the judgement. 

There is another bottom line that one ought to consider.  Malta remains a very attractive option for families seeking to establish a second home for themselves.  There are other programmes available that allow interested applicants to obtain resident status in Malta for themselves and their families and thus relocating to a to a country renowned for its hospitality, a country that offers political stability, a country that possesses a stable and vibrant economy, a country that boasts lots of sunshine and clear blue seas all year round, a country where a variety of different cultures converge to feel at home and lead a unique mediterranean lifestyle, amongst a list of other benefits that the tiny archipelago at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea may provide.

Malta still remains a safe port for families seeking solid global mobility solutions.  At Phoenix Wise Solutions, we welcome the opportunity to be of assistance in helping families make Malta their second home.  Please let us know when we can start helping you!!

Dr. Stephan Gauci

Managing Director