Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Mr President, golden visas, residence and citizenship look like issues which belong to the national legislation of the Member States. But they are not – and they never have been since the Lisbon Treaty entered into force – because they fall under a common European visa policy and European legislation. Golden visas have a negative impact on the status of EU residence and citizenship. They have a negative impact on the common fight against corruption, money laundering and fiscal unfairness. European residence or citizenship should not be bought in a black market or sold out by Member States’ governments. Finally, they have a negative impact on equal rights, equality before the law, because they benefit the rich, and they are an offence against most fundamental EU values.

My conclusion is clear, crystal clear. A new European visa code and a common European strategy are needed in order to fight against not only corruption but also tax evasion, fraud, fiscal fairness and fairness for all.