EU to Overhaul ‘Blue Card’ Work Permit for Migrants
by Honor Mahony, EU Observer, Belgium –
The EU is keen to overhaul its “blue card” system to attract skilled migrants to come and work in the bloc amid fears of the long-term economic consequences of a population that is living longer and having fewer children.
“Europe’s member states have a difficult period in front of them in terms of the jobs market. Europe’s working population is going to decrease so [it] needs legal immigration,” said EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday (13 May).
The Blue Card system, granting special residency rights and a work permit, is designed to attract highly-skilled migrants to Europe. But the system – meant to be implemented in all member states by 2011 – has not had widespread take-up.
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