France is getting set to introduce the European Union Blue Card, one of the first western European nations to do so. So far, the Blue Card has only been implemented in eastern European nations such as Hungary.

The Blue Card is a work visa which allows non-EU skilled workers to live and work in the EU. Exceptions are the UK, Ireland, and Denmark, who have chosen to opt out of the Blue Card initiative.

The Blue Card provides an excellent opportunity for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Europe. Immigration to most European countries has historically been difficult, however the EU is recognizing that skilled immigration is needed to help support their aging population and declining working age population.

To qualify for a Blue Card, a non-EU national must have a job offer valid for at least one year in a participating EU state. A worker must also have a higher education degree, five years of relevant work experience, and must be making 1.5 times the minimum salary level set by the state.

A proposal by two German cabinet officials to make Germany more attractive for highly skilled workers has been rejected by Chancellor Angela Merkel in favor of the European Union blue card. The EU blue card is an initiative to attract highly skilled professionals from outside the 27-member bloc.

The Guardian has an opinion piece up which paints a darker picture of skilled immigration into the European Union, saying that the EU is sifting potential migrants with skills from those without, regardless of their need to immigrate.

Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) party, says that successful European Union immigration policies are the "key to future prosperity".

In an interview with EurActiv, Neyts-Uyttebroeck said that the European Union is experiencing a demographic change that will cause "immense pressure" on the EU's welfare systems in as little as ten or twenty years.

Slovenia is one of the first EU countries in a while to start talking about implementing the European Union initiative to create an "EU Blue Card" for highly skilled foreign workers. Not much is publicly know about when and how they will implement the Blue Card. As soon as more information is available, we'll publish it here.

What is known now is that the Slovenian Labour Ministry will make changes to its foreign labour act that will include implementing the European Union's Blue Card.