European Parliament fails to open up Europe for skilled migrants

2.57.00pm GMT Thu 20th Nov 2008

Labour MEPs support protectionist measures

The European Parliament has voted on a directive laying down conditions of entry and residence of foreign immigrants for highly qualified employment. The original proposal aimed to improve Europe's ability to attract highly qualified workers from abroad in order to boost the competitiveness of the EU economy.

Unfortunately, Labour MEPs voted with their Socialist group and lined up with the European Council in voting for a set of amendments introducing a lot of red tape. This will make it in practice very difficult for highly qualified workers to work in the European Union. For this reason, the outcome was unacceptable to Liberal Democrats, who abstained. Most of the EPP group to which Tories belong also supported the amendments.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European Justice and Home Affairs Spokeswoman, slammed Labour MEPs for their protectionist and bureaucratic reflex:

"Now we finally had the chance to give a strong message in favour of efficient and well-managed openings for legal migration, to address the demand of businesses and public services in urgent need of qualified workers. But in failing to clearly seize this chance, a majority of MEPs including Labour has just shot the EU in the foot. The trend for most highly qualified workers to emigrate to the US, Canada or Australia and boost their economies instead of Europe's will just continue."

"It is sad that despite the need for skilled workers in the EU, Labour MEPs took the tabloid line by voting to make it harder for these high skilled workers to work in the EU rather than listening to the experts or the economic argument. Their response can only be described as outright protectionism."

The EU blue card would introduce a special procedure for the entry of non-EU citizens to work in the European Union. Inspired by the US Green Card it aims to have a common procedure for the whole of the EU, while decisions on individual applicants and total admissions would be for each Member State. The United Kingdom has an opt-out on this policy.