EU agrees new draft rules for highly skilled migrant workers
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(BRUSSELS) - EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal Tuesday to make the Blue Card system more attractive to highly qualified third-country nationals who are looking to work in the EU.
The new scheme will introduce efficient rules for attracting highly skilled workers to the EU, including more flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU Member States. Agreement on the revised Blue Card is seen as a key objective of the EU's 'New Pact on Migration and Asylum'.
The Blue Card Directive, in place since 2011, defines the conditions of entry and residence in the territory of the member states as well as the rights of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly-qualified employment and applies to their family members.
The EU sees itself as increasingly competing with other destinations in the global race for talent. While the Member States are responsible for deciding on the number of persons they admit for labour purposes, an improved framework at EU level will put Member States and businesses in the best possible position to attract the talent they need. The new scheme will introduce the following changes:
- Flexible requirements: To qualify for an EU Blue Card, the salary threshold will be reduced to between 1 and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary, making it more accessible to more people. The minimum duration for a contract of employment will also be reduced to 6 months.
- Qualifications and skills equivalency: New rules will facilitate the recognition of professional skills for occupations in the information and communication technologies sector. Applicants with professional experience equivalent to a higher education qualification in some specific sectors will also be eligible to apply.
- More flexibility to change position or employer: During the first 12 months, EU Blue Card holders need only complete a new labour market test if they wish to change position or employer. Only after this period, EU Blue Card holders may be subject to an obligation to notify a change in their situation to the relevant national authorities.
- Highly skilled beneficiaries of international protection will be eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card.
- Family reunification: To attract and retain highly skilled workers from outside the EU, family members of EU Blue Card holders will be able to accompany them and access the EU labour market.
- Intra-EU mobility: EU Blue Card holders, and their family members, will be able to move to a second Member State based on simplified mobility rules after 12 months of employment in the first Member State. Periods of time spent working in different Member States will also be taken into account, facilitating easier access to the EU long-term resident status.
Parliament and Council now need to confirm formally today's political agreement by adopting the EU Blue Card Directive. Once the Directive is formally adopted, Member States will have 2 years to transpose the rules into national law.