MEPs back foreign worker ‘Blue card’ plan

The European Parliament has endorsed the idea of an EU work permit, called the ‚blue card‘ after the US Green Card, allowing employment to non-Europeans in any country within the 27-nation bloc. In late November, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a “consultation” report on the issue, with 388 votes in favour, 56 against, while 124 lawmakers abstained. “This report shows that Europeans are open to immigration flows and that we are welcoming to nationals from outside Europe”, EU home affairs commissioner Jacques Barrot said. However, MEPs have tabled additional, but non-binding, ideas for member states to consider when they re-open the topic. According to the ministerial deal, blue card holders should earn 1.5 times the average wage, although in certain sensitive sectors, such as health care or education, they would be obliged to be earning only 1.2 times the average salary. The blue card is designed to attract specific types of immigrants to participate in the EU workforce, allowing “them and members of their families to enter, reside in and have access to the labour market” in sectors suffering from shortages. In practice, an Indian engineer could enter an EU state after presenting a valid work contract or a binding job offer, with the work permit limited to a maximum 18-month stay at first. Afterwards, he would be allowed to take up highly qualified employment in another EU state, although it would remain the exclusive competence of member states to set specific numbers of economic immigrants entering their territory in order to seek work. It is expected that the scheme will enter into force in 2011.