The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council has confirmed that the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) remains on schedule to begin operations in September 2026, as the region works to strengthen oversight of its citizenship by investment programmes.
According to Antigua News Room, the update was contained in a communiqué issued following the Council's 113th meeting, held in Dominica on Friday. Finance ministers and premiers from across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union gathered to review progress on regional initiatives.
The Council stated that ECCIRA will play a key role in strengthening governance, transparency, integrity and regulatory oversight of citizenship by investment programmes across participating member states.
"The Authority remains on track for launch in September 2026," the communiqué stated. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the timely operationalisation of the new regional body.
The Council also stressed the importance of continued engagement with international partners to ensure the region's programmes meet the highest international standards, while preserving the economic and diplomatic relationships vital to Eastern Caribbean economies.
The announcement comes as Eastern Caribbean governments face mounting international scrutiny of their citizenship by investment programmes, including recent calls from the European Union for participating states to phase out the schemes.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who also serves as Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Finance, attended the Monetary Council meeting alongside his counterparts from other ECCU member states.
