Yesterday, the Commission approved the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on new regulations for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU under the revised Blue Card Directive.

The revised program will establish better rules for attracting highly skilled workers to the EU, including more flexible entry conditions, improved rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU Member States. This agreement on the revised Blue Card is a crucial part of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Member States decide on the number of persons they admit for labour purposes. However, an improved structure at EU level will put Member States and businesses in a better position to attract the talent they need. The new scheme will introduce the following changes:

• Flexible requirements: To qualify for an EU Blue Card, the salary threshold will be reduced to between 1 and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary, making it more accessible to more people. The minimum duration for a contract of employment will also be reduced to 6 months.
• Qualifications and skills equivalency: New rules will facilitate the recognition of professional skills for occupations in the information and communication technologies sector. Applicants with professional experience equivalent to a higher education qualification in some specific sectors will also be eligible to apply.
• More flexibility to change position or employer: During the first 12 months, EU Blue Card holders need only complete a new labour market test if they wish to change position or employer. Only after this period, EU Blue Card holders may be subject to an obligation to notify a change in their situation to the relevant national authorities.
• Highly skilled beneficiaries of international protection will be eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card.
• Family reunification: To attract and retain highly skilled workers from outside the EU, family members of EU Blue Card holders will be able to accompany them and access the EU labour market.
• Intra-EU mobility: EU Blue Card holders, and their family members, will be able to move to a second Member State based on simplified mobility rules after 12 months of employment in the first Member State. Periods of time spent working in different Member States will also be taken into account, facilitating easier access to the EU long-term resident status.

The European Parliament and the Council will need to formally confirm the agreement by adopting the EU Blue Card Directive. Afterwards, Member States have 2 years to transpose the rules into national law.

Image © European Parliament, 2021