even EU is looking for skilled immigrants due to business demands
for Indians and PRC chinese
EU 'Blue Card' to target skilled
Immigrants from China, Russia and Ghana in Germany after
citizenship ceremony
There are fears the plan could lead to a brain drain from poorer
nations
The European Commission has unveiled a Blue Card for skilled
immigrants, based on the US Green Card.
The plan would allow suitably qualified people and their families
to live and work within the European Union.
The EU says it needs 20m skilled workers over the next two decades,
and is very short of expertise in engineering and computer
technology.
The scheme, which is more restrictive than the US Green Card, would
need the approval of all 27 EU member states.
Correspondents say another aim of the plan is to reverse a current
trend under which skilled migrants, mostly from Asia and Africa,
emigrate to the US to find work.
'Centralisation too far'
The BBC's Mark Mardell in Brussels says the proposal is
controversial and some countries are sure to oppose it.
Critics also fear that Europe's attempt to take the best and leave
the rest will only encourage a brain-drain from poorer
nations.
The UK, Ireland and Denmark could opt out, but the other EU members
will have to take part.
Franco Frattini (L) and European Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso in Strasbourg, France, on 23 October 2007
Blue Card v Green Card
EU pins hopes on 'blue card'
UK ministers say they are studying it, but our correspondent says
they are not keen on the card, preferring to develop an
Australian-style points system.
Unveiled at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday
afternoon, the Blue Card would enable holders and their families to
live, work and travel within the EU.
To be eligible, new immigrants would need to show a recognised
diploma and have at least three years professional
experience.
They would also need the offer of a job, for a minimum one-year
contract, which could not be filled by an EU citizen.
European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said: "This is not an
'open doors' policy."
"If a given member-state needs engineers or doctors, it has to
decide how many, and then I will provide a state with a common
procedure," he added.
But some politicians in the Netherlands and Germany are hostile and
the Austrian government has condemned the plan as "a centralisation
too far".
Across Europe there is a real tension between politicians, who know
voters are worried about immigration, and businesses demanding
graduates from India and China, our correspondent says.
