23 October 2007

Brussels (dpa) - The EU must attract more professionals from countries like India or China if it wants to compete on the world's economic stage, EU chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday.

"We are not good enough at attracting highly skilled people. Nor are we young or numerous enough to keep the wheels of our societies and economies turning on our own," said the president of the bloc's executive, the Commission, in presenting plans designed to lure skilled immigrants away from the United States, Canada and Australia.

One such proposal involves granting third-country professionals who agree to relocate to the EU similar benefits to those currently enjoyed by their European colleagues.

These include better working conditions, comparable health and safety at the workplace, various tax benefits and the chance to build up a decent pension by adding up payments made in various EU member states.

Workers who satisfy certain conditions would be granted a so- called "EU Blue Card" - similar to the US' Green Card - valid for up to two years, renewable, and applicable in all 27 member states.

The proposals would also make it easier for foreign professionals to be reunited with their families.

"The proposed directive aims at supporting member states' and EU companies' efforts to fill gaps in their labour market that cannot be filled by highly qualified EU nationals," a Commission text read.

"In a market where there is increasing international competition for these workers, Europe can only succeed in attracting 'the best and the brightest' if it speaks with one voice," the document by the EU executive said.

Current rules for granting residence and work permits vary widely across the EU. While it normally takes just 68 days to process an application for a permit in Finland, a similar procedure can take up to six months in the Netherlands or Lithuania.

Meanwhile, demand for highly-skilled workers has been growing on average at an annual rate of 3 per cent in the EU.

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