Italian news outlet Laspecula has published an interesting interview by Mirko Gentili with EU deputy Ewa Klamt, author of a recent report giving proposed details on the EU Blue Card. During the interview, she stated that one of the benefits of the US Green Card-inspired immigration scheme would be free-movement throughout the European Union.

Some highlights are reprinted below:

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Mrs. Klamt, could you explain to our readers how does the EU-BlueCard works?

The objective of the Blue Card proposal is to introduce a fast-track and flexible admission procedure and favourable residence conditions for third-country nationals.

A person applying for a Blue Card must either have completed a university study or must have a comparable professional experience of at least five years. The Commission had proposed a three-year minimum experience. The minimum salary which has to be paid for such highly qualified workers from third countries amounts to at least 1.7 times the average gross annual salary of employees in the EU. The Council favours a factor of 1.5, whereas the Commission had stipulated three-times the national minimum wage in its previous proposal.

We need realistic and good criteria, which are interesting for the applicant and do not let the EU fall behind its main competitors, such as the USA, Canada or Australia. Once a Blue Card is issued, the Blue Card holder enjoys full mobility within the EU. After two years of legal employment in the first Member State, the Blue Card holder may seek highly qualified employment in a second Member State. Blue Card holders are also allowed to bring their families with them immediately.

The initial validity of an EU Blue Card shall be of three years. The Blue Card is then renewable for at least another two years.

What are the sectors where European Union need more highly skilled workers?

First of all, I would like to mention that every Member State is able to determine the volume of admission of highly qualified workers from third countries. If there is no demand for highly skilled workers in a Member State, a Blue Card will not be issued. I can only give you some figures for my own country. For example in Germany, there is a demand for 95,000 engineers which cannot be met by the national workforce.According to a study of the Institute of German Economy there were about 165,562 vacant posts for highly qualified workers which could not be filled in 2007. Among them, 6,849 in the sector of Economics and social sciences, 8,130 in the masters, 3,192 in Law and 73,288 in Engineering and natural sciences.

In your opinion, could the "Blue Card" be a first step towards a common immigration policy?

Yes, the Blue Card directive is a first step in the field of legal migration and toward a common immigration policy which allows highly qualified third country nationals to work and reside in the EU. Other directives in this field will follow (e. g. seasonal workers, remunerated trainees and intra-corporate transferees).

Illegal migration can only be effectively tackled if we open up the door for legal migration and close the door for migrants coming illegally to the EU. That means, if the EU provides for prospects and offers of legal migration, countries of origin and transit countries will have an interest in joining the fight against illegal immigration.