Malta's so-called golden passport scheme that lets people become citizens through financial investment is contrary to European law, the EU's top court has ruled.

Axar.az reports that the EU commission took Malta to court in 2022 over the scheme, which grants foreigners a Maltese passport and thereby the right to live and work in any EU country in return for paying at least €600,000 (£509,619), buying or renting property of a certain value, and donating €10,000 to charity.

The EU's Court of Justice said the scheme "amounts to rendering the acquisition of nationality a mere commercial transaction".

Malta's government has not yet responded to the ruling, which former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat called "political".

He said he believed the scheme could continue with "some changes".

The country risks hefty fines if it does not comply with the judgment.

The EU's Court of Justice said, "the acquisition of Union citizenship cannot result from a commercial transaction."