Europe Immigration News

EU directive was yesterday adopted by the European Parliament that will make living in other EU countries easier for nationals of EU member states.

new law comes into effect in 2006, and stipulates that ex-patriates from EU countries will no longer have to apply for a residence permit to live and work in any other EU country. Although EU nationals do not require work permits to work in another member state, they do however need a residence permit if they stay for more than six months.

A recent study carried out by Eurobarometer found that perceived fears of a huge wave of migration from the new EU Member States after enlargement seem to be unfounded. Even if current EU Member States did not restrict their labour markets after 1 May 2004, when ten new countries will join the EU, migration from these new Member States to all current Member States would only be about 1 per cent of the working age population.

The Dutch Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk has proposed that all immigrants, both new arrivals and long-term Dutch foreign national residents, need to successfully complete a social integration course and exam.

This regulations would also apply to non-EU ex-patriates who have come to the Netherlands on a work permit and who have been resident in the country for more than three years. Some countries, such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have agreed with the Netherlands to exempt their citizens from the requirement to complete an integration course.

Of all 15 EU member states, only Ireland has decided not to restrictaccess of Central and Eastern European migrants to its labour marketsfrom 1 May.

Below you will find details of what restrictionsare planning to be put on migrants from eight of the ten new accessioncountries by current EU member states. These restrictions will notapply to citizens of Malta and Cyprus.

Austria

All ex-patriates living in Brussels, regardless of their nationality, have been granted the right to vote in local municipal elections under a new law approved by the Belgian Parliament on 20 February.

Under the new regulations even non-European Union foreigners living in Belgium, such as the large Indian national population, will be eligible to vote in the country’s municipal elections.

Nevertheless, one will have to meet certain conditions before being able to participate.

The Dutch government has announced that local employers will only be able to recruit workers from the ten EU accession countries this year if no Dutch person can be found for the position. Despite this new ruling, the restrictions will vary from sector to sector.