OECS leaders are pressing for high-level discussions with the European Union before year's end, as concerns mount that visa-free access to the Schengen Area could be curtailed for countries operating Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes.
According to Antigua News Room, the issue featured prominently among key matters taken up during the 78th Meeting of the OECS Authority, held in Antigua and Barbuda, where heads of government reviewed the latest developments affecting the region's investment migration industry.
Speaking at a post-meeting media briefing, OECS Chairman and Prime Minister Gaston Browne said leaders remain deeply concerned about the prospect of the European Union withdrawing visa-free Schengen travel privileges for participating countries. He indicated that OECS governments are seeking direct engagement with senior EU officials before any final decision is reached.
Browne noted that one option currently under consideration by European authorities is the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which would fall short of a complete suspension of visa-free access.
The discussions come as OECS member states move closer to fully implementing a regional regulatory framework designed to strengthen oversight of CBI programmes and address concerns raised by international partners.
During the opening ceremony of the OECS meeting, Director General Dr. Didacus Jules announced that Antigua and Barbuda had completed another step toward the formal establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), a body intended to oversee and standardise CBI operations across participating states. Jules said the authority is being established to ensure programmes meet the highest international standards, providing additional assurance on transparency, due diligence and governance.
ECCIRA was created through collaboration among Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. The agreement establishing the regulator was signed in 2025, with participating countries subsequently passing enabling legislation and completing ratification procedures. The authority is expected to be headquartered in Grenada.
Regional leaders have argued that a unified regulator will strengthen the credibility of Caribbean investment migration programmes by creating consistent standards across jurisdictions. The authority's mandate includes enhanced due diligence procedures, biometric data collection, centralised vetting systems and annual compliance reporting.
Browne warned that any restrictions affecting CBI programmes could carry serious economic consequences for the region. He stressed that many governments rely heavily on CBI revenues to fund public projects and development initiatives, making the preservation of those programmes' viability and international acceptance a matter of economic necessity.
The European Union has intensified scrutiny of investment migration programmes in recent years, citing concerns over security screening, due diligence standards and the potential misuse of visa-free travel arrangements. Those concerns sharpened following a 2025 ruling by the European Court of Justice against Malta's investor citizenship programme.
OECS leaders remain hopeful that the establishment of ECCIRA, combined with continued engagement with international partners, will address those concerns and safeguard existing travel arrangements for citizens of participating states.
