On Wednesday 26 July, the committee of permanent representative of the member states to the EU adopted its mandate for negotiations on the Blue Card directive covering the entry and residence conditions for highly qualified workers from third countries. This single residence and work permit should enable the EU "to compete with the American Green Card or the Canadian points system", Estonia's Interior Minister Anders Anvelt stated in a press release.
The Blue Card directive aims to make it more attractive for highly qualified workers from third countries to work in the EU. It will also aim to improve their mobility between jobs in different member states, a press release states. The review, as approved by the Council, provides "more inclusive admission criteria, including by reducing the salary threshold that member states can set for the admission of third-country nationals and establishing that member states may apply a lower minimum salary rule also to recent graduates".
The directive also enables the minimum length of the work contract to be reduced to six months. In addition, it aims to make the procedures faster, in particular by introducing the possibility to apply simplified procedures for recognised employers. The directive is also expected to facilitate intra-EU mobility by reducing the minimum period of legal residence in the first member state. "In certain cases", the Blue Card can also include beneficiaries of international protection.
The European Parliament's civil liberties committee adopted its negotiation position in mid-June (see EUROPE 11809). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)