5. External dimension There is also a rising trend in third countries setting up schemes where investors can purchase citizenship, which may have implications for the EU. 5.1. Candidate countries and potential candidates Due to the prospect of future Union citizenship of the citizens of candidate countries and potential candidates115, citizenship of these countries becomes increasingly attractive to investors. This is the case already during the accession process as candidate countries and potential candidates develop closer relations with the EU and can obtain the right for their citizens to enter the Schengen area visa-free for short stays116. A citizenship investor scheme is in place in Turkey117 while, in Montenegro, preparations for the implementation of such a scheme, which was adopted in November 2018, were launched in January 2019118. In order to prevent such schemes causing risks in the areas outlined in Section 4.1 above, conditions regarding citizenship investor schemes will be included as part of the EU accession process (from the opinion on a country's application for membership up to the closing of negotiations). Countries concerned will be expected to have very robust monitoring systems in place, including systems to counter possible security risks such as money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption and infiltration of organised crime linked to any such schemes. As concerns candidate countries and potential candidates, the Commission will monitor investor citizenship schemes in the context of the EU accession process. 5.2. Other third countries enjoying visa-free access to the EU Investor citizenship schemes run by third countries can be problematic for several reasons, if the citizenship in question grants visa-free access to the European Union for short stays. For example, the Republic of Moldova, whose citizens have enjoyed a visa-free regime for short 115 116 117 118 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/countries/check-current-status_en Citizens of Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can travel to the EU without a visa since December 2009. For citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is possible since the end of 2010. Concerning the visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo* launched on (19 January 2012), the Commission reported in 2018 that all established benchmarks had been fulfilled (*this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244(1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence). Concerning the visa liberalisation dialogue with Turkey (launched on 16 December 2013), the Commission continues to support Turkey to fulfil the seven remaining benchmarks. Regulation on the Application of Turkish Citizenship Act (Official Gazette 6 April 2010, 27544), amended by the Regulation on the Changes on the Regulation Regarding the Application of Turkish Citizenship Act (Official Gazette 12 January 2017, 29946) and by the Presidential Decree No. 106 (Official Gazette 19 September 2018, 30540). Decision of 22 November 2018 on the criteria, method and procedure for selection of persons who may acquire Montenegrin citizenship by admission for the purpose of implementation of special investment programs pf special importance for the business and economic interests of Montenegro http://www.gov.me/ResourceManager/FileDownload.aspx?rId=344979&rType=2 22