The European Commission is taking measures to tackle the practice of selling passports to wealthy foreigners. Vanuatu has issued citizenships to wealthy investors, including here individuals wanted by Europol over various offenses.

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to suspend visa-free travel with the South Pacific Ocean nation.

The measure, which would be a first on a global scale, aims to put the brakes on the so-called “golden passports”.

In Vanuatu, foreigners can obtain citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000 USD.

On the other hand, this provides them with easy access to other nations, including here the 27 EU member states.

The Commission had warned about the move in case it would see that Vanuatu had not changed its program.

If the proposal receives a green light, it would bring an end to visa-free travel for anyone who had obtained citizenship in Vanuatu from 2015.

EU’s executive arm highlighted the dangers posed by the scheme arguing that in essence, it accepts all applications without any scrutiny, including here applicants who show up on the wanted list of Interpol.

The EU Commission said it is monitoring all countries that have no visa regime with the EU that are operating effectively or are planning to establish investor citizenship schemes, listing among others Albania, Montenegro, and Moldavia.