How Italy, Spain, Portugal,Greece, Ireland can make billions in one go

[Mich the Tester]

Sell EU passports.

Ireland; sell Irish passports to the Irish 'diaspora' at 1000 euros a go.

Italy; sell Italian passports to the Italian diaspora at 1000 euros a go.

Portugal; likewise to Brazilians, but you might have to give Mozambiquans a discount.

Greece, OK, not a huge diaspora, but sell them to anyone who'll pay.

Spain; sell them to Latin Americans.

This would bring in some cash in the short term, and it would scare the tulip out of northern Europe to the extent they have to pay you to stop.

[TimberWolf]

It wouldn't have scared the tulip out of New Labour. Not so sure about Cameron, the spawn of Blair.

[wobbegong]

Sell EU passports.

Ireland; sell Irish passports to the Irish 'diaspora' at 1000 euros a go.

Italy; sell Italian passports to the Italian diaspora at 1000 euros a go.

Portugal; likewise to Brazilians, but you might have to give Mozambiquans a discount.

Greece, OK, not a huge diaspora, but sell them to anyone who'll pay.

Spain; sell them to Latin Americans.

This would bring in some cash in the short term, and it would scare the tulip out of northern Europe to the extent they have to pay you to stop.

Northern Europe might not pay them to stop, choosing instead to spend the money on considerably more effective border controls, meaning that those countries selling the passports will have well and truely crapped on their own doorsteps.

[OwlHoot]

Sell EU passports.

Ireland; sell Irish passports to the Irish 'diaspora' at 1000 euros a go.

Italy; sell Italian passports to the Italian diaspora at 1000 euros a go. ..

That's not a bad idea.

Come to think of it, I'd pay that for a genuine Irish or Italian passport. You never know when it might come in handy.

The snag is most of the diaspora are in the US, where I don't think they allow dual nationality, at least not for long.

edit: Oh, actually that doesn't always apply, e.g. link, and the Dual citizenship FAQ

[Mich the Tester]

That's not a bad idea.

Come to think of it, I'd pay that for a genuine Irish or Italian passport. You never know when it might come in handy.

The snag is most of the diaspora are in the US, where I don't think they allow dual nationality, at least not for long.

You don't need to tell the US or any other government you've got another passport. You just keep it ready for if you need it.

[Mich the Tester]

Northern Europe might not pay them to stop, choosing instead to spend the money on considerably more effective border controls, meaning that those countries selling the passports will have well and truely crapped on their own doorsteps.

Nope, bad idea. Trade in the Schengen area would be severely hit; all the logistics are now geared to Schengen, with no border controls. If trucks, trains and passengers have to stop at every border, imagine the immense costs to business. Enormous. Imagine the amount of perishable products that will go off in transit. Of course, maybe you could man the borders sufficiently to have no waiting time, but that would be unfeasibly expensive and involve building huge border crossings. I see the reality because I live very near the German border and see just how many cars, trucks and trains cross it every day.

Besides, Europe has land borders; if you really want to get around the customs and passport people, you walk through a field.

Really, the southern Europeans can do the job more cheaply.

[Mich the Tester]

That's not a bad idea.

Come to think of it, I'd pay that for a genuine Irish or Italian passport. You never know when it might come in handy.

The snag is most of the diaspora are in the US, where I don't think they allow dual nationality, at least not for long.

edit: Oh, actually that doesn't always apply, e.g. link, and the Dual citizenship FAQ

There's method in my madness. Instead of seeing immigration as a problem, look at it as an opportunity. Be selective, but not too selective. Set up an agreement of free trade with, for example Argentina, with EU passports for a grand a go on presentation of a trade diploma or university degree. You have access to 40 million Spanish speakers, 1.5 million Italian speakers, half a million German speakers, and most of the educated Argentinians speak English as a second language. Uruguay is similar, but the numbers are smaller. They come from a developed country, have good education (better than much of Eastern Europe) and are probably interested in 'circular migration', coming to Europe to study or do business and then return home. Educated Latin Americans are not even going to come here and do 'plenty cheapness' because they can earn nearly as much at home. This could actually work.

[petergriffin]

Sell EU passports.


Italy; sell Italian passports to the Italian diaspora at 1000 euros a go.

You're laughing but this more or less happened during the fascist regime. Many skilled and rich Italians emigrated abroad and when they made lots of money (Brazil, Argentina, USA and Canada) they thought: F**k off my country and stayed abroad. This would definitely be very stupid on the long term for any country, but if you think who is currently ruling Italy...

[minestrone]

Ireland; sell Irish passports to the Irish 'diaspora' at 1000 euros a go.

I pay enough taxes tank you very much.