Brussels, 13/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - MEPs, sitting in Strasbourg on Tuesday 13 December, adopted the so-called single permit directive which will enable nationals of non-EU countries to obtain work and residence permits through the same procedure. The Council of Ministers adopted the text on 24 November.
By virtue of the agreement reached between the two institutions, third country nationals will be able to apply to a one-stop shop for residence and work permits and member states (which will retain their sovereignty in determining the numbers of non-EU nationals allowed to enter the country) will be required to reach a decision on applications within four months. Third country nationals will also enjoy a new raft of rights putting them on an equal footing with European citizens in, for example, wages, redundancy, health and security at work, the right to join a trade union, recognition of qualifications and access to goods and services and to social security.
For this last right, restrictions may be applied to social benefits, particularly for workers whose contracts are for less than six months, the Commission said.
Under the directive, non-EU workers will also be able to claim a number of tax concessions, as long as they are resident for tax purposes in the member state concerned. Non-EU nationals will be able to receive their pensions when they move back to their home country under the same conditions and at the same rates as the nationals of the member state where they worked.
Seasonal and posted workers will not be covered by the directive. Member states have two years to transpose it into their national laws. (SP/transl.rt)