OECS to Meet EU Over Threat to Citizenship by Investment Program

Leaders from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have agreed to launch a high-level mission to the European Union in response to the EU's threat to terminate the region's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs. This decision follows a meeting of prime ministers from Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Roseau, Dominica.

Earlier this month, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne revealed he received a letter from the EU requesting the gradual elimination of the CBI program by June 1, 2028. The letter, dated June 25 and signed by European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, cites the EU's Revised Visa Suspension Mechanism, adopted on December 31, 2025, as the basis for this demand.

In a joint statement, the Caribbean leaders declared their intention to engage in direct talks with EU representatives, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the earliest appropriate opportunity. The mission aims to foster a deeper understanding of the unique vulnerabilities and developmental realities faced by small island developing states and to explore practical solutions identified by the EU, thereby strengthening cooperation.

The OECS leaders highlighted the significant contribution of CBI programs to their national development, supporting critical investments in climate resilience, disaster recovery, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and fiscal stability. They stressed that any transition away from this substantial funding source must be accompanied by a comprehensive framework to safeguard economic stability, protect development gains, and support the creation of alternative sustainable financing. The leaders also reviewed the EU's communication and discussed potential implications for their countries' economic resilience and long-term prosperity, along with an appropriate collective response.