EU governments are poised to shoot down plans aimed at making it easier for non-EU nationals to live and work across the bloc, according to a draft position the Council is going to adopt, obtained by Statewatch and EURACTIV.
The proposal tabled by the European Commission is aimed at attracting “skilled and talented” workers to the bloc. The European Parliament adopted its position on the matter last April, proposing different measures that would facilitate the application for the long-term permits.
Among others, the Parliament proposed to allow third-country nationals to apply to a national authority to live and work in the territory for a long-term period after three years of living in the country, without being disqualified if absent for more than 24 months.
Under the current rules, non-EU nationals must be living legally in an EU country for at least five years before they can acquire long-term resident status. Any gaps in residency of more than six months at once, or 10 months in total during that period, disqualify them.
In addition, the Parliament proposes an approval period of up to 60 days and, if approved, third-country nationals would also be able to move to another member state for work or study purposes without additional requirements such as labour market checks or integration requirements.
Dependent children will be eligible for the long-term permit if their primary carer already has it.
However, the text proposed by the Swedish government, whose EU council presidency ended last week, indicates that national governments want to water down these plans.
For instance, they want to keep the minimum period to become eligible to apply at five years, as well as the disqualification in case of absence from the country for more than six months.
“To better attract and retain talented workers at all skill levels, we propose a portable EU long-term resident status with the right to move freely across Europe for work or studies,” said Damien Boeselager, the German MEP who drafted Parliament’s position on the legislation.
“This right will allow migrants to travel and seek opportunities across Europe and fill in labour shortages where needed,” he added.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
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Source: euractiv.com
