Skilled immigrant workers may soon find it easier to obtain long-term resident status in the European Union. 21 November 2008 STRASBOURG - The European Parliament on Thursday backed a "blue card" scheme for skilled immigrant workers, while stressing it should be open only to the most qualified applicants. ... The inspiration for the programme comes from the US green card system, which gives immigrants long-term resident status. However, members of the parliament called for the salary bar to be set higher than foreseen by the 27 EU member states. ... With the consultative vote out of the way, the path is now clear for the creation of the European blue card scheme, a fact welcomed by French socialist EU deputy Roselyne Lefrancois, who stressed that only 1.2 percent of highly qualified foreign workers chose the EU. ... The "blue card," which takes its name from the main colour of the EU flag, would entitle highly qualified third country nationals to a series of rights in any of the 27 EU nations. A fast-track system would be set up to allow such workers to enter the bloc they could stay for an initial period of two years which would be renewable and obtain longer-term residence status more quickly. Later, they would be able to work in a second member state under certain conditions. The commission, the EU's executive body, is aware that it is entering a sensitive area of national policy, with many member states experiencing a surge in immigration from both within and outside the Union. http://www.expatica.com/fr/articles/news/EU-parliament-backs-blue-card-scheme-.html
Skilled immigrant workers may soon find it easier to obtain long-term resident status in the European Union.
21 November 2008
STRASBOURG - The European Parliament on Thursday backed a "blue card" scheme for skilled immigrant workers, while stressing it should be open only to the most qualified applicants.
...
The inspiration for the programme comes from the US green card system, which gives immigrants long-term resident status.
However, members of the parliament called for the salary bar to be set higher than foreseen by the 27 EU member states.
... With the consultative vote out of the way, the path is now clear for the creation of the European blue card scheme, a fact welcomed by French socialist EU deputy Roselyne Lefrancois, who stressed that only 1.2 percent of highly qualified foreign workers chose the EU.
... The "blue card," which takes its name from the main colour of the EU flag, would entitle highly qualified third country nationals to a series of rights in any of the 27 EU nations.
A fast-track system would be set up to allow such workers to enter the bloc
The commission, the EU's executive body, is aware that it is entering a sensitive area of national policy, with many member states experiencing a surge in immigration from both within and outside the Union.
http://www.expatica.com/fr/articles/news/EU-parliament-backs-blue-card-scheme-.html
The MEPs called for EU interior ministers, who will consider the matter next week, to insist that 'blue card' candidates should have a job offer in Europe which pays at least 1.7 times the national average wage in the country they are applying to work in. That would create a pay level of at least EUR 4,300 pre-tax in France but only EUR 370 in Bulgaria.
That would create a pay level of at least EUR 4,300 pre-tax in France but only EUR 370 in Bulgaria.
Opinions:
British Liberal Graham Watson was very critical at the way the scheme has evolved. "All's not well that starts well," he opined. "What began as pioneering legislation to address legal migration at the EU level ended up a messy, mediocre compromise. "A blue card wrapped in red tape is hardly a welcome gift. Europe can do better than this." Greek Communist Athanassios Pafilis accused the EU of seeking a "cheap labour force for EU capitalism to increase profits" which would be "tantamount to a brain drain from countries of origin."
"What began as pioneering legislation to address legal migration at the EU level ended up a messy, mediocre compromise.
"A blue card wrapped in red tape is hardly a welcome gift. Europe can do better than this."
Greek Communist Athanassios Pafilis accused the EU of seeking a "cheap labour force for EU capitalism to increase profits" which would be "tantamount to a brain drain from countries of origin."
