According to an article in the Prague Post, the Czech Republic's Labor and Social Minister Petr Necas said that his country would not adopt the EU Blue Card until other member states dropped labor restrictions for Czech citizens. The Blue Card is a proposed economic immigration scheme that would create a single process for highly skilled non-EU citizens to live and work in most member states, rather than the 27 different visa regimes that exist now.

"If the labor force cannot move freely within all 27 EU countries, there is not going to be any Blue Card," Necas said in an interview with a Czech news outlet.

EU legislation states that some member states can opt out of the program, namely Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. However, all other member nations must come to a consensus on the immigration scheme before the EU can adopt the Blue Card.

Jiri Sezemsky of the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry echoed Necas' comments, but did not rule out eventual adoption of the Blue Card immigration scheme.

"We are still going to discuss Blue Cards," he said. "However, it is unacceptable that the citizens of the Czech Republic be put at a disadvantage in comparison with citizens of third countries, who would have easier access to labor market than citizens of new EU member states."

The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 along with 7 other Easter European countries. While some nations such as the United Kingdom opened their labor markets to citizens of these eight countries, others -- including Austria, France, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium -- still retain work restrictions. However, in 2011 these restrictions must be lifted according to EU regulations.

Because of this, it's possible that the EU Blue Card may not be implemented until at least 2011, unless countries such as the Czech Republic can be persuaded to go along with the proposal.

The arguments are strong in favor of an EU-wide skilled visa and immigration policy. Labor shortages in many countries are becoming acute, especially in some of the Easter European countries. The Czech Republic is facing skills shortages in some of its key sectors, such as the automobile industry.

Currently, there are over 300,000 foreign workers in the Czech Republic, with a third of that number coming from Ukraine. However, most foreign workers in the country are doing lower skilled work. Czech businesses hope that the EU Blue Card would help them find the skills they need.

[The Blue Card scheme] wouldn't change our strategy, but it would give us more options,” said Matt Morgan of Elan IT Czech Republic. "It would be a welcome change."

The Blue Card would also be a persuasive factor in attracting overseas businesses to invest in the country.

"I wish that more Canadian business would come to the Czech Republic, and that the Interior Ministry was better organized," said aid Peter Formanek, Commerce chapter in Prague.