| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.11, No.45, 15.12.05 |
| Publication Date | 15/12/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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By David Cronin Date: 15/12/05 Franco Frattini, the European commissioner for justice, security and freedom, is considering the introduction of a system modelled on the US Green Card to allow foreign migrants to live and work in the EU. Frattini said that some of the measures that he will present to his colleagues for adoption next week (21 December) would be "rather similar" to the Green Card scheme. He told European Voice that priority would be given to introducing EU- wide multi-entry visas and residence permits for some categories of professionals from abroad. "A Green Card can be envisaged for researchers, engineers and doctors," he said, pointing out that there was a demand from many EU countries for workers with qualifications in these fields. "But this would be very difficult to achieve for the huge amount of low-skilled people [seeking to enter the EU] because member states are not in favour." But he said that he would be presenting guidelines on ensuring that migrants lacking professional qualifications could "avoid the black labour market". Frattini's proposals will identify migration as a tool for addressing Europe's labour needs, especially given that the populations of many EU countries are projected either to fall or to grow at a low rate over the next few decades. Frattini will stress that the scheme could bring benefits as well for the countries from which migrants originate. Another objective of the proposal would be to enable migrants to return home easily and make use of any qualifications they have gained in Europe. Frattini's proposal is also to address the 'brain drain' phenomenon: poor countries have complained that their most talented professionals are leaving home to earn higher wages in richer nations. This question has featured prominently in recent discussions between EU representatives and Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the African Union commission. One proposal under consideration is that EU states should agree not actively to recruit professionals from countries where basic services like health or education are severely understaffed. The UK, which reportedly has more doctors from Malawi working in its hospitals than there are in Malawi itself, has introduced such a code of conduct in its healthcare system. The Commission has been assessing whether an EU-wide approach to 'regularising' the status of unauthorised migrants can be adopted. A source close to Frattini said that the Commission believed its powers in this area were severely limited. At most, the Commission can urge that member states consult each other before granting large-scale amnesties to people living on their territory illegally. Spain came under fire from Germany and other countries earlier this year when it decided, without informing other EU governments, to allow 800,000 immigrants to apply for residency permits. A delegation of MEPs recently visited Morocco and Libya, both of which are transit countries for large numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers wishing to enter the EU. German Socialist Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler said that he had met migrants from Bangladesh in Morocco who had travelled vast distances in the hope of escaping poverty through work in Europe. As these migrants were not aware before embarking on their journey that they would have an illegal status in Europe, the Commission could have an important role to play in disseminating information about its approach to migration issues, the MEP added. The European Commission is thinking of considering the introduction of a system modelled on the US Green Card to allow foreign migrants to live and work in the European Union. The proposals were expected to be launched 21 December 2005. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
