Brussels, 05/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - According to a European Commission report published on 20 September, students, pupils and trainees from non-EU countries are still encountering difficulties in coming to study in or travel to the European Union. This report underlines the uneven way in which Directive 2004/114/EC is being applied. This directive sets out common standards for allowing third country nationals into the EU for educational or training purposes.
In a press release, the Commission explained that in an effort to improve implementation it is therefore seeking to amend this directive (transposition of this directive is still incomplete in a number of member states) in 2012. “The report reveals a crucial need for amendments to the directive, especially regarding: the reinforcement of procedural guarantees (specific deadlines for handling applications, obligation on member states to give reasons for refusals); the strengthening of mobility clauses (which concern students admitted in a first member state who apply to continue their studies in a second member state)”. It also wants to promote “the stimulation of synergies with EU programmes that facilitate third-country nationals' mobility into the EU; or the improvement of the level of harmonisation as regards volunteers, unremunerated trainees and school pupils.”
The Commission also wants this examination to avoid impinging on the power of member states to determine the volumes of migrants, while resolving the issue of access to work for third-country national students at the end of their studies. In 2009, more than 200,000 third-country nationals entered the EU for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service. In 2009, the countries that received the highest number of students were France (53,563), Italy (32,634), Germany (31,345), Spain (22,068) and Sweden (13,968). (SP/transl.fl)