Immigration news

Some ethnic communities in Canada are concerned about the lack of ease for religious leaders to immigrate into the country. Federal immigration officials are expressing interest in making the process easier, in response to their concerns, and are currently looking into methods of accomplishing this.

Many religious clergy do not currently qualify for permanent resident status because of failures to meet current requirements as landed immigrants. Noted particularly was the lack of language skills in English and French.

A decree of the Prime Minister dating back to October, 2006 on "Additional measures regarding the inflows of non-seasonal non-EU citizens in 2006" provides for the issuance of 50,000 more residence and work permits in the Lazio Region of Italy.

According to the decree, 350,000 more residence permits are available to non-EU citizens, out of which 50,000 will be for the Lazio Region.

British Colombia, Alberta and Saskatchewan will benefit from a government program designed to ease regulations concerning foreign workers coming into Canada.

The European Union has agreed to negotiate agreements with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia making it much easier and cheaper for their nationals to obtain visas to travel to the EU. All of these countries have expressed interest in joining the European Union, but for various reasons have not met criteria to become accession states, yet.

Well-managed immigration flows offer benefits both for host countries and for migrants and their families. But the effective integration of immigrants into the societies of the countries where they settle is crucial, and this requires commitment and action at national and local level.

Top European Union officials this week agreed on new plans aimed at boosting the bloc's efforts to keep illegal migrants from poor African countries from entering via the southern borders.

EU justice and interior ministers decided to reinforce the bloc's external border agency Frontex so that it can strengthen controls and monitoring of Europe's Mediterranean borders.