The Government of Malta Act No 47 of 2014 governs the Malta Citizenship by Investment initiative, which was launched by the government of Malta in 2014. Furthermore, Malta joined the European Union in 2004. Malta, an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea and a republic in Southern Europe, is formally known as the Republic of Malta. It is located 333 kilometres north of Libya, 80 km south of Italy and 284 km east of Tunisia. Malta is a part of the European Union, Schengen Area, United Nations, and Council of Europe, among other important international organizations.