Legal Migration: Europe Adopts New Rules to Make EU Attractive for Highly Qualified Workers

The Portuguese Presidency of the Council and EP representatives reached a provisional agreement on new rules for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU under the revised Blue Card Directive. This EU-wide admission system aims to attract and retain highly qualified specialists, mainly in sectors facing skills shortages.

The agreement provides more flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU countries.

Eduardo Cabrita, Minister for Home Affairs of Portugal commented that the revised rules for the Blue Card are placing the EU "firmly among the top destinations for highly qualified workers".

EU countries will be able to maintain national schemes aimed at highly qualified workers in parallel with the EU Blue Card scheme. The new rules will introduce a number of provisions to ensure a level playing field so that EU blue card holders and their families are not at a disadvantage compared to holders of national permits.

The provisional political agreement is subject to approval by the Council and the European Parliament before going through the formal adoption procedure.

Welcoming the agreement, Margaritis Schinas, EC Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, said that it gives the EU a modern, targeted legal migration scheme "that will allow us to respond to skills shortages and make it easier for highly skilled professionals to join our workforce". This agreement on a key migration file also shows that, by working together, the EU can equip itself with a future-proof migration system, he commented. 

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