Action on illegal immigration pre-requisite to policy on legal migration - Busuttil
An effective European policy on illegal immigration is a pre-requisite for a policy on legal migration, MEP Simon Busuttil said during a debate in the European Parliament’s plenary session meeting in Strasbourg this morning.
The chamber was debating two new laws which would enable third-country nationals to access the EU’s labour market; a law establishing a so-called “Blue Card” and a law establishing a “Single Application” for a residence and work permit for immigrants entering Europe legally.
Dr Busuttil said that this was the first time that the EU was opening a window to legal migration, enabling non-EU workers to find a job in the EU on the basis of a common European permit, known as the “Blue Card”. This was acceptable, he noted, provided that EU countries retained the right to determine how many foreign workers they required in their own territory and provided also that EU workers were guaranteed a preference over non-EU workers.
But Dr Busuttil cautioned that the EU could not advance a credible policy on legal migration unless it first showed that it could be effective on illegal immigration.
“People cannot trust Europe on legal migration unless we demonstrate that we can act effectively on illegal immigration.” he warned.
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Michelle Dali
Nov 20th 2008, 17:21
I have to commend Dr Busuttil on his warning that “People cannot trust Europe on legal migration unless we demonstrate that we can act effectively on illegal immigration.”
His is right on this point. The EU must firstly establish an effective method of stopping illegal immigration before considering the 'blue card' system for legal workers.
With so many European countries experiencing an economic downturn and millions of Europeans set to become jobless by the end of next year, does it make sense to encourage non-Europeans to migrate to Europe in search of work?
As Mr Morana rightly pointed out, this will also result in workers from deprived third world countries leaving their own homelands instead of staying to work hard to build a better future for their nation.
Joe Morana
Nov 20th 2008, 16:42
The European Parliament should consider the issue of 'legal migration' very carefully. With the economies of most European countries at a low, and with unemployment rising, the last thing they need is an influx of foreign 'legal immigrants'who would take jobs away from locals. Such a policy as the one currently under discussion also serves to entice more and more individuals away from depressed homelands, and serves to strip these same countries of the expertise and hard work needed to improve local conditions and the standard of living.
B Borg
Nov 20th 2008, 12:37
Brilliant! What a creative quick way out of the current crisis!
``EU workers were guaranteed a preference over non-EU workers.´´
I highly doubt it when most Africans, Indians, and Chinese people earn much less than €100 a month (if they can get a job that is), and we have lots of them, literally on our doorsteps, willing to work for much less than the minimum wage.
Way to go, EU!
Stephen Farrugia
Nov 20th 2008, 12:36
That is right, we don't trust them , until they stop illegal immigration.