By Uglobal Staff
The European parliament has adopted an agreement to revise the EU Blue Card Directive to make the EU an even more appealing place for the globally sought after highly skilled migrant workers.
The Sept. 15 parliamentary vote and subsequent adoption of the agreement in Strasbourg came after the European parliament and the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council had come to an interim deal in May earlier this year.
The revised EU Blue Card Directive targets not just the highly qualified applicants but also high-qualification occupations where it is known that shortages exist.
MORE FAVORABLE RULES OFFERED
The revised EU Blue Card will now be available to highly qualified migrants who have a six-month long job offer or a work contract; previously, the minimum period of the work contract was at least a year-long.
Salary thresholds have also been sharply reduced to allow more candidates to qualify for the card. The minimum salary bar has now been set at 100% of the mean gross annual salary of the EU member state where the applicant goes for a job, which is down from the previous150% minimum requirement.
Also, successful applicants would be allowed to move to another EU member state after their year-long stay in the country from where they received their Blue Card.
EU Blue Card holders would also be able to fast-track processes to bring their family members to the country.
Refugees too would be allowed to get hold of the EU Blue Card provided they apply for it in a state other than from where they gained their asylum status.
EU MEMBER STATES HAVE TIME TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES
Alessia Ajelli, who is an attorney at LCA Studio Legale in Milan, said it might take a long time for some EU members states like Italy to implement the revised EU Blue Card Directive.
“After approval by the EU Council and publication in the official gazette, EU member states will have in fact two years to implement such changes into their national legislation,” she said.
“For the time being, the features of the EU Blue Card as implemented in Italy are still the same; hence, an investor who wants to hire non-EU talents shall comply with the usual requirements, among which are: (i) the future employee shall hold a university degree recognized in Italy; (ii) binding job offer or contract of at least 12 months; (iii) minimum annual gross salary of approx. 25,000 euros and (iv) a qualified job position.”
NEED FOR GLOBAL TALENT
The EU faces stiff competition from countries like the UK, Canada and Australia which offer several incentives, including permanent residency and eventually citizenship to highly qualified migrants from around the world.
The European Union also faces the challenge of an overall aging population as well as a gradual decline in its working population.
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