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One click to Europe: EU launches migration website

18 November 2011, 16:37 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - The European Union launched a website Friday to help would-be migrants navigate a maze of 27 states with their own immigration rules for workers and students.

With some nations facing a shortage of certain types of workers, despite high unemployment, EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem called for deeper cooperation with non-EU states to manage migration.

"Despite the high levels of unemployment in the EU today, we will in the near future need more labour migration because of the demographics. This is something that member states have to recognise," Malmstroem told a news conference.

Malmstroem cited figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showing that the EU will need some two million health care professionals -- doctors and nurses -- in the next three years.

There are 20.1 million foreigners in the EU, representing four percent of the bloc's population of half a billion people.

As part of its migration strategy, the commission unveiled a website, http://ec.europa.eu/immigration, aimed at making it easier for foreigners to learn how to apply for various visas across the EU.

"Many people who want to move to the European Union do not know what possibilities exist, how to apply for a resident permit or the risks related to irregular migration," Malmstroem said.

"And migrants who are already in the EU are not always aware of their rights," she added.

She called for cooperation deals to be struck with north African neighbours -- Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, and one day Libya -- in order to facilitate legal migration from a region changed by pro-democracy revolutions.

EC Immigration portal


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Malmstroms new pet project

Posted by Mona Westerberg at 20 November 2011, 01:11 CET
The EU should scrap this proposition at once. Europe does NOT need an influx of people from the MENA countries as we now struggle with massive unemployment in the EU countries as well as a huge economic burden. Before we deal with others problems, let´s put the EU in at least a semblance of order, otherwise we will not be able to help anyone. Let them use the democracy they they have fought and won to put their houses in order. Btw, I consider Ms Malmstrom a poor choice for any commissioner post now and in the future.