25/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – Member states’ representatives to the EU on COREPER may be able to reach agreement in principle on Wednesday 26 July on revision of the blue card directive on work permits for highly qualified non-EU nationals (see EUROPE 11567). The Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU thinks that an agreement is within reach that will pave the way for negotiations with the European Parliament because a source says the reservations voiced by Germany and others have been dealt with. A number of problems remained for Berlin, such as minimum pay for highly qualified individuals who would be eligible for blue cards. The compromise is said to keep the existing national schemes for non-EU workers when it comes to pay. Parliament’s civil liberties committee adopted its negotiating position on the question in mid-June (see EUROPE 11809). (SP)