Europe Immigration News

France is suffering due to a domestic labour force that does not have the relevant skills necessary for the economy and levels of unemployment that have been a constant problem for the country for close to a decade. The issue is pitting employers pushing for easier entry for foreign labour against politicians who are trying to avoid an anti-immigration backlash before the 2007 presidential elections.

It seems that England is not the only nation in the UK experiencing an ever growing population, aided by the rise in immigration. Scotland's population has increased for the third year running to almost 5.1 million.

The official figures revealed April 28, show Scotland has experienced the second largest wave of people travelling from other countries to work and set up home out of the Countries in the UK. This is the main reason for the population boom in Scotland.

Immigrants to Spain are emerging as a powerful new force in the Spanish economy, raising demand for housing, which in turn is sustaining the country's construction boom.

Spain's rising divorce rate is the catalyst for the increased demand for housing, with more than one in five marriages now ending in separation or divorce. According to real estate studies, the divorce rate is generating an additional 140,000 homes being built each year.

European immigration experts are saying the EU should adopt immigration laws similar to Australia's, New Zealand's and Canada's where selective skilled immigration has been introduced.

The experts told the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, the European Union needs to adopt a new policy on immigration that would "selectively" open borders to deal with the influx of immigrants.

France has long been one of Europe's most coveted destinations for immigrants. A draft bill introduced to the French parliament will make it even more difficult to immigrate to France.

The new recommendations are for a more selective process that concentrates on recruiting only skilled immigrants.

The Netherlands has introduced Europe's most stringent immigration requirements for would-be immigrants. Applicants for a resident visa must now pass a Dutch language test administered at the Dutch Embassy in their country of origin costing $417.

Along with the language exam, applicants will be tested on their compatibility with Dutch liberalism. This is done by way of a civil-examination, including a 108 minute film which includes homosexuals kissing and nudity in beach scene.