Job Discussion Forums

[hollysuel]

Any thoughts on the article below? Will it be positive or negative for TEFL in Europe?


EU 'blue card' to tempt skilled

The European Commission is set to unveil a Blue Card for skilled immigrants, based on the US Green Card.

The card would allow suitably qualified people and their families to live and work within the EU.

The EU says it needs 20 million skilled immigrants over the next 20 years, and is very short of expertise in engineering and computer technology.

Correspondents say another aim of the proposal is to deter the best brains from emigrating to the US to find work.

The BBC's Mark Mardell in Brussels says the plan 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.

Creating 'EU magnet'

The UK, Ireland and Denmark could opt out, but the other EU members will have to take part.

UK ministers say officially they are studying it, but our correspondent says they are not keen on the idea, preferring to develop a points system.

Under the proposals, due to be unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, a Blue Card would enable holders and their families to live, work and travel within the EU.

To be eligible for the card, new immigrants would need to show a recognised diploma, have at least three years professional experience and the offer of a job which could not be filled by an EU citizen.

"To maintain and improve economic growth in the EU, it is essential for Europe to become a magnet for the highly skilled," the European Commission said in a statement.

"...To do so, the EU must present a united front, rather than emphasise the different immigration policies of each member state."

The plan will need the approval of all member states to come into force.

Some politicians in the Netherlands and Germany are hostile and the Austrian government has condemned the plan as "a centralisation too far".

There is a real tension between politicians all over Europe, who know their voters are worried about immigration, and businesses which say they will not be able to function without the skills of graduates from India and China, our correspondent says.

source: BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7057575.stm

[spiral78]

First of all, I think the proposal has a very slim chance of ever becoming reality. Immigration is a very touchy issue for any country, and I can say that the Czech Rep, as an example, is currently considering its own green card system, over which the national government would maintain absolute control in terms of who would be qualified. To make a blanket set of laws to cover all EU member countries just won't fly, in my opinion. No national government is going to want to give up the right to say who are allowed to immigrate into that country. Voters would revolt.

Secondly, I think such a card would be VERY unlikely to include English teachers. Yes, I know that there are some EU member states (Spain comes to mind) where large numbers of teachers are currently working illegally because demand is so much greater than the supply of EU member citizen teachers. But I've seen this clause "a job that no EU member citizen can/is available to do" in the past - and English teaching is specifically excluded.

[john_n_carolina]

you're probably right, Spiral - won't pass. thanks for clearing up the confusion on the Blue Card. saved me some reading time.

[QatarChic]

Just to add to what spiral already said...I think by 'skilled' they're meaning sectors such as IT etc....there's a discussion on this on the korea forum

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=102731

[spiral78]

Engineers, maybe IT, etc. Not likely to be EFL teachers.