Agerpress, November 20, 2008 - The European Union can attract more highly skilled immigrants, their access to the EU should be facilitated by the introduction of a blue card, approved by the European Parliament, on Thursday.

Conceived after the US green card, the European blue card is a work and stay permit granted for three years, at first, to people from third countries, which can prove they are highly skilled.

An easier access of highly skilled immigrants in the European market has been due to the need of such workforce. Statistics say that, in the next 20 years, in the EU, there will be a deficit of 20 million highly skilled people. Statistics also say that currently the EU draws only a very small part of the 'brains' who are choosing to go to another country. Fifty percent of the highly skilled workforce prefer the United States and Canada, and only 5.5 percent are going to the EU.

The adoption of a report drafted by German EMP Ewa Klamt (European People's Party - European Democrats, EPP-ED) on the introduction of the blue card was preceded, late on Wednesday, by intense debating in the European Parliament.

Before the voting in the plenum, Romanian EMP Renate Weber (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE), said that the report on the legal immigration of highly skilled workers from out of the EU contains an amendment, proposed by Manfred Weber and Ewa Klamt (EPP-ED), which, evidently is to the advantage of Romanian citizens. It reads that European citizens have a priority for hiring. 'With Romanian (and Bulgarian) citizens still facing restrictions in the labour market in many EU countries, restrictions which could be prolonged, considering the current economic crisis, I believe it is normal for them to be treated as European citizens of second rank, and even be left behind workers from out of the EU,' said Weber.

After the vote in the plenum of the European Parliament, the introduction of the blue card should also be submitted to the European Council. The coming into force of the new Directive is due in the second half of 2011.