Brussels, 12/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - By the end of September, the European Commission plans to introduce a legislative proposal on the creation of a “green card” based on the American model. The proposal, currently being prepared, should be put forward in the legal form of a proposal for a directive. Holding such a card would allow long-term stay on European Union territory, and allow employment as well as mobility throughout each of the 27 Member States. Beneficiaries of the programme would only be recruited from highly qualified migrants. The responsibility of issuing such cards would be that of Member States. The Commission's project will require the unanimity of Member States. The Commission's announced ambition is to make the Old Continent attractive for qualified foreigners. Implementation of the green card for highly qualified workers could, however, have a significant impact on the brain drain from countries that need it the most (the southern countries). This is why the EU intends to promote the so-called “circular migration” concept between the EU and migrants' countries of origin by offering the possibility to those interested of freely making return trips between their countries and Europe. The Commission is also looking at ways to prevent, for example, the fact that doctors and nurses emigrate in mass from poor countries to Europe. Without going as far as to support the idea of a green card, Germany, which was until then sceptical about common legislation concerning legal immigration, now plans to promote the concept of circular immigration. It will have an opportunity to do so during the JHA Council on Monday and Tuesday (EUROPE 9342). (bc)