By KUNA,
Brussels : Ambassadors of the 27-member European Union in Brussels have agreed on a project to issue a “Blue Card” to attract highly qualified immigrants from non-EU countries, a source in the current French EU Presidency told reporters here Thursday.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source said the EU ambassadors agreed this week on the European Blue Card, which is based on the US Green Card.
Technical details of the plan will be completed in the next few days and is expected to be approved by EU interior ministers in their meeting end of November.
The EU needs millions of immigrant workers to fill in jobs left vacant by an ageing population in Europe.
Meanwhile, EU interior ministers during their meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow, Friday, will discuss a proposal on a European passenger name record (PNR) as part of EU’ counter-terrorism effort. Under the proposed plan, airlines flying to the EU will be obliged to share private data on their passengers, such as passport numbers, emails and credit card details, with Europe’s law enforcement agencies. However, many Members of the European Parliament have expressed their reservation about the plan arguing that it violates civil liberties of individuals. The EU last year signed a deal with the US, which obliges all European air carriers to transfer 19 pieces of personal data on passengers traveling to the US to American security agencies.
Drug trafficking in West Africa is another topic on the agenda of Friday’s meeting of the EU interior ministers. West Africa has become a platform for trafficking drugs from Latin America to Europe. Between 2005 and 2007, seizure of cocaine from West Africa destined for Europe, amounted to 33 tonnes.