euro|topics - A Blue Card for qualified workers?

Main focus of Friday, September 14, 2007

A Blue Card for qualified workers?

EU Commissioner for Justice Franco Frattini has proposed the introduction of a Blue Card. Modelled on the US's Green Card, it is aimed at facilitating the immigration of qualified workers to the EU. But what are the chances of success for this common European immigration policy?

El País - Spain

"As the European justice commissioner Franco Frattini announces that the Union will be receiving 20 million immigrants in the next two decades, French and British governments are proposing restrictive measures to limit the entrance and residency of foreign workers", notes the Spanish daily. "If up until now the introduction of a common policy on immigration matters has been an urgent task in Europe, it is now beginning to represent an indispensable antidote to counter the imagination of governments determined to hound foreign workers. Rather than establish a common policy that takes into account the common interests of host countries and countries of origin as well as the scrupulous respect of human rights and equality before the law, each of the member states tends to launch itself demagogically into initiatives that satisfy their national opinions." (14/09/2007)

Diário de Notícias - Portugal

For the Portuguese daily, the creation of a 'Blue Card' is ambitious and difficult to bring into use. "This measure is intended to be universal, i.e. applicable to all the member states. Following the example of the United States' Green Card, it will open up access to well-paid jobs. However, contrary to the United States, our union does not benefit from a central executive power that regulates economical life: the tax system, employment market, education systems and professional training. ... The will of some countries such as France or Great Britain to attract a certain type of high-ranking professional differs from other countries, such as Portugal, that have other needs. It is becoming increasingly clear that new EU policies clash with the 'community method', the famous policy of little steps and reinforced cooperation." (14/09/2007)

Frankfurter Rundschau - Germany

Werner Balsen welcomes Franco Frattini's Blue Card proposal in principle but maintains that it leaves many questions unanswered. "For instance it remains unclear how Frattini intends to reach a consensus on the Blue Card among 27 EU countries with different immigration policy interests... particularly as they're competing with each other to attract skilled workers from Asia and Africa. In this context an English- or French-speaking country is considerably more attractive for people from Africa than, for example, Finland. It's unfortunate that Frattini is focusing exclusively on middle and high qualified workers. After all, Spain's agricultural sector would collapse without workers from the Maghreb states on the other side of the Mediterranean. The Commissioner's initiative would be more plausible if he had tried to take this fact into account when drawing up his scheme." (14/09/2007)

Berlingske Tidende - Denmark

The newspaper takes a critical view of EU Justice Minister Franco Frattini's initiative aimed at facilitating the immigration of skilled workers to Europe and encouraging a positive attitude towards immigration: "The EU is a magnet for unskilled workers from poor countries. 85 percent of unskilled workers... come to the EU whereas only five percent go to the US. Conversely, the US gets 55 percent of the skilled workers and the EU only five percent... Certainly it's a good idea to open the borders for qualified workers, but we shouldn't repeat the mistakes that dogged our immigration policy well into the 1990s." (14/09/2007)

» To the complete press review of Friday, September 14, 2007

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