In May 2021, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on a revision of the 2009 Blue Card directive to make it easier for employers in EU member states to hire third country nationals. Originally proposed by the Commission in 2016, this will be the only legislative change at EU level in the field of legal labour migration in recent years.

The revised directive on entry and residence conditions foresees more flexible criteria, including a lower threshold for the minimum salary that applicants must earn in order to qualify for a Blue Card. It also expands the rights of beneficiaries with simplified intra-EU mobility and faster family reunification procedures.

EU Blue Card

EP Plenary session - New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EC) - Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship

Press conference ' Legal Migration and integration of third country nationals

Parliament debate a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee legislative-initiative report on legal migration policy and law. The report makes multiple recommendations to amend current directives, calling on the European Commission to present a legislative proposal.

Legal migration policy and law: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

Parliament debate a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee legislative-initiative report on legal migration policy and law. The report makes multiple recommendations to amend current directives, calling on the European Commission to present a legislative proposal. Opening statements by Abir AL-SAHLANI (Renew, SE), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission.

Legal migration policy and law: opening statements by Abir AL-SAHLANI (Renew, SE), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

Legal migration policy and law: MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration (Part 1/2).

New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: MEPs debate (Part 1/2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-president of the European Commission.

New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: closing statement by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-president of the European Commission

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration (Part 2/2).

New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: MEPs debate (Part 2/2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services (in particular, the intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills). Opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Morten LØKKEGAARD (Renew, DK), and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Morten LØKKEGAARD (Renew, DK), and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services (intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills). Closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: closing statement by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services (intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills).

Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: MEPs debate

MEPs vote on the humanitarian visas in the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). Statement by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D,ES), rapporteur. Results from the vote: 37 votes in favour, 10 against and 3 abstentions.

Vote on the humanitarian visas: extracts from the vote, statement by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur

This infoclip illustrates a woman whith migrant background who has participated in the 'Stark im Beruf' programme arriving to her internship job at a dental clinic in Düsseldorf, performing several tasks and learning others. She also picks up her kids from school after her work.

Infoclip: Internship programme for mothers with migrant background – "Stark im Beruf" Germany

This infoclip illustrates mothers with migrant background participating in the 'Stark im Beruf' programme in Düsseldorf, where they learn about the German job market, how to write a presentation letter or perform in a job interview.

Infoclip: Training programme for mothers of migrant background – "Stark im Beruf" Germany

Meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs&nbsp;(LIBE) on Listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo), in the EP in Brussels. Vote on the report by Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI)

Listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo): extracts from the vote on the report by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI)

Joint debate on the Legal migration package, during the EP plenary session (06-09 June) in Strasbourg. Statements by Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Kinga GAL (EPP, HU), Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK), Nathalie GRIESBECK (ALDE, FR), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI) and Cecilia WIKSTROM (ALDE, SE)

Legal migration package: extracts from the joint debate

Lex signing ceremony by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and by Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, EU Presidency, during the EP plenary session (9-12 May 2016) in Strasbourg. Signing of the regulation on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) - Signing of the Directive on procedural safeguards for children suspected or accused in criminal proceedings.&nbsp;- Signing of the Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, pupil exchange, remunerated and unremunerated training, voluntary service and au pairing. - Signing of three Directives on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union and on railway safety (4th railway package). - Signing of the Regulation on harmonised indices of consumer prices and repealing. - Signing of the Regulation on the aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables, bananas and milk in the educational establishments.&nbsp;

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