| Author (Corporate) | European Commission: DG Migration and Home Affairs |
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| Series Details | COM (2016) 378 |
| Publication Date | 07/06/2016 |
| Content Type | Blog & Commentary, News, Policy-making |
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Summary: Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 7 June 2016, setting out a reform of Directive 2009/50/EC - also known as the Blue Card Directive. Further information: Directive 2009/50/EC sets out the entry and residence conditions for highly-qualified non-EU nationals wishing to work in a highly-qualified job in a Member State of the European Union (EU), and for their families. This Directive excludes Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). The Directive also creates an EU Blue Card system. An assessment of the existing Directive demonstrated a set of weaknesses preventing it from fully fulfilling its aim, such as restrictive admissions conditions and limited facilitation of intra-EU mobility. It added to the existence of many different sets of parallel rules, conditions and procedures for admitting the same category of highly skilled which apply across EU Member States. These elements limited the EU's Blue Card attractiveness and usage. The European Agenda on Migration announced the review of the Directive, as part of a new policy on legal migration. This was also stated in the European Commission's Work Programme for 2016. The 2016 Communication on the CEAS reform calls for the development of safe and legal pathways to EU territory. The revision of the EU Blue Card Directive was also addressed by the European Parliament. The draft law was tabled on 7 June 2016, aimed at replacing the existing Directive and improving the EU's ability to attract and retain highly skilled third-country nationals. It also aimed at enhancing their mobility and circulation between jobs in different Member States. The proposal was published alongside an Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted a negotiating position on 15 June 2017. The Council of the European Union adopted a general approach on 26 July. Trilogue negotiations stalled for a number of years thereafter. The 2020 New Pact on Migration and Asylum urged co-legislators to successfully conclude the negotiations on this draft Directive, given the importance of this file. An informal agreement on a compromise text for the draft law was eventually reached on 17 May 2021. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 15 September, followed by the Council on 7 October. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2016:378:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs |
| Subject Tags | Migration | Immigration |
| International Organisations | European Union [EU] |
