The European Commission asserts that Europe is lagging behind in the global race for attracting world’s most talented and skilled, that’s why it has included several actions to be undertaken in its proposal for a new Migration Pact in order to attract more bright people from third-countries to live and work in the EU.
The new pact, which was presented on Wednesday by the EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, and Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, intends to update the EU regulations on regular migration to make it easier for more skilled migrants to come to Europe.
“The EU is currently losing the global race for talent. Other OECD countries, such as the USA, Canada, and Australia, are attracting more talent from abroad. The Impact of Demographic Change in Europe report shows that Europe has an ageing and shrinking population and skills shortages that need to be addressed,” Commission’s webpage on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum notes.
According to the Commission, a credible legal migration and integration policy would benefit the European societies and economies. That is why the Commission has foreseen several actions which should be undertaken by the EU bodies and the Member States in order to ensure that the 27 EU countries attract the world’s brightest and most skilled.
Finalisation of the Reform of the EU Blue Card Directive
The EU Blue Card scheme has been created by the EU in order to grant highly-qualified workers from non-EU/EEA countries the right to reside and work in an EU country.
Those who wish to benefit from this card must prove they have higher professional qualifications, such as a recognised university degree, as well as an employment contract or a binding job offer with a salary higher than the average in the EU country where his potential employee is based.
The scheme was established in 2009, and the only members of the EU-27 not participating are Denmark and Ireland.
In mid-2016 the Commission presented a legislative proposal to reform the Blue Card scheme, with the intention to make it easier and attractive for highly skilled third-country nationals.
The reform has, however, not finalised yet. Through the new Pact on Migration, the Commission intends to complete the reform as soon as possible.
Revision of the Single Permit Directive
EU’s Since Permit Directive is a regulation that intends to establish an application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to live and work in the territory of a Member State and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.
The Directive provides a set of common rights to be granted as equal treatment with nationals as regards working conditions, and access to certain social security benefits.
The Directive was established in 2016, but the Commission notes that there might be a need to consider putting forward legislative measures to tackle the inconsistencies, gaps and other shortcomings identified, in order to simplify, streamline, complete and generally improve EU legislation.
Its revision has not been completed, but if the new Migration Pact is adopted quickly and without any quarrels between the member states, it may soon become effective.
Revision of Long-term Residence Directive to Strengthen Rights of Residents to Move and Work in the Member States
The Long-term Residence Directive grants residents that are non-EU nationals, who have resided within the block for an uninterrupted period of five years, with a set of uniform rights that are almost identical to those enjoyed by EU citizens.
In order for the resident to benefit from this set of rules, he/she must have a regular and sufficient source of income, health insurance and, in some cases when required by the EU State, having complied with integration measures.
If they meet these requirements, the non-EU nationals receive an EU long-term residence permit, which is renewable. They also enjoy the same treatment and rights as nationals in certain areas, including access to employment and self-employment.
Now the Commission wants to revise the Directive in order to strengthen the rights of legal residents to move and work within the Member States.
Establishment of EU Talent Pool
The idea of an EU Talent Pool has first been proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which back in March 2019 presented a report with an overview of the obstacles that keep hampering the attraction and recruitment of skills from outside Europe. The report, at the same time, discusses the role of public and private initiatives to help overcome these barriers.
Now, through the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Commission wants to launch Talent Partnerships with key non-EU countries that will match labour and skills needs in the EU.
“The Commission will explore options for setting up an EU Talent Pool, an EU-wide platform for international recruitment. The platform will allow skilled non-EU workers to express their interest in migrating to the EU, and could be identified by EU migration authorities and employers based on their needs,” the Commission explains.
Johansson: We Need Migration Because We Are an Ageing Society
Presenting the new Pact on Migration EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson pointed out that the EU has an ageing society. Data shows that the average age in the EU is 43.1 years.
According to Johansson, only last year, 2.4 million migrants received a residence permit in the European Union.
“Most of them because they fell in love with an EU citizen and they married. But also, for other family reasons. To work here, to study here and also some that got asylum,” she said.
She also added that 140,000 migrants arrived in the EU through irregular ways, a third of which were refugees, pointing out that despite the number of those coming another million actually left the block.
Survey Shows 31% of Working-Age Immigrants Are Key Workers in EU
SchengenVisaInfo.com reported earlier this year on the results of the European Union Labour Force Survey, which showed that nearly 31 per cent of working-age immigrants are key workers in the European Union.
The report emphasised that the share is heterogeneous across the EU Members from more than 40 per cent in Denmark and France, to only above 10 per cent in Bulgaria and Slovenia.
According to the survey results, the largest five categories of key workers in the EU are:
- teaching professionals (14.5 per cent)
- skilled agricultural workers (11.9 per cent)
- science and engineering associate professionals (11.1 per cent)
- personal care workers (10.3 per cent)
- cleaners and helpers (9.9 per cent)
SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info
