Europe Immigration News

The Netherlands is introducing its new integration policy next month by establishing Dutch language and culture tests at 138 embassies, the country's immigration minister said this week.

The 30-minute computerized exam will determine if new immigrants are prepared for Dutch life, said Rita Verdonk. "If you pass, you're more than welcome. It is in the interest of Dutch society and those concerned."

A special report for the Chicago Tribune looks at the new EU member states, and the new challenges they face as many of their best and brightest young people immigrate to "old Europe" for better paying careers. By Tom Hundley.

The Netherlands, home to multinational companies such as Unilever and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, may ask residents not to use foreign languages in public.

Rotterdam, the country's second-biggest city, last month passed a code that encourages residents to speak only Dutch in schools, at work and on the street as the city struggles to assimilate Turkish and Moroccan immigrants. Now Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk is calling for a similar national measure. Neither move includes penalties for violators.

France's interior minister will submit a draft law this week that proposes an immigration system that would reward skilled and educated applicants, and make it easier to expel unwanted foreign workers.

"We no longer want an immigration that is inflicted (on us) but an immigration that is chosen, this is the founding principle of the new immigration policy I advocate," Nicolas Sarkozy told Le Journal du Dimanche. "The system of integration the French way no longer works."

Immigration databases blacklisting non-European nationals for security or criminal reasons must be in line with EU freedom of movement law, Europe's courts ruled this week.

The European court of justice has ruled on a clash between restrictions imposed by national governments on foreign nationals and EU freedoms.

The case involved two Algerians married to Spanish nationals. They were barred from Spain by an immigration blacklist involving all EU countries except the UK, Ireland and Denmark.

Only five governments have implemented key European immigration legislation aimed at giving rights to non-EU long-term residents.

The status of third-country nationals was agreed by EU governments in November 2003 and an implementation deadline expired this week.

But out of 22 capitals – Ireland, Denmark and the UK opt out of EU borders legislation – only five, Austria, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, have notified implementing measures.