Comité van de Regio's steunt inspanningen EU om buitenlands talent aan te trekken (en)
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) supports efforts made by the European Union to remain a magnet for foreign talent and welcomes the initiative to improve and simplify rules to encourage highly qualified migrants to move to the Union. Through an opinion prepared by Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos (EL/EPP), Municipal Councillor of Aigaleo and Secretary of the decentralised administration of Attika, the CoR warns however that attracting talented migrants must not be limited to facilitating the conditions of their entry and residence, but should also promote measures to support their integration within local communities.
Today's Europe is confronted with the challenge of an ageing population which, accentuated by the crisis, is leading to a shortage of skilled human resources in a number of sectors including science and technology. This situation adversely affects Europe's competitiveness, creativity and capacity for innovation. Against this backdrop, the CoR welcomes the European Commission's initiative to provide clearer and more consistent rules for non-EU nationals coming to the EU for studies, scientific research and other exchanges.
In this regards Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos, rapporteur for the CoR opinion on Researchers, students, volunteers and other groups of third-country nationals stressed that: "At a time when other parts of the world are becoming ever more attractive to highly-qualified third-country migrant workers, the EU needs to effectively address the weaknesses that have been identified in attracting foreign talent to Europe".
The rapporteur warns that: "Setting out clearer conditions of entry and residence is not in itself sufficient to guarantee the attractiveness of the EU. Measures should also be promoted to ensure the reception and integration of third country nationals into local communities. This is an important area of action for local and regional authorities which play a decisive role in creating the right conditions for migrant workers to access information and services relating to education, healthcare, employment, housing and other public services".
In this context, the CoR deplores the lack of direct reference in the European Commission's proposals to adopt a "bottom-up" approach and that the impact assessment carried out gives no consideration to the impact that the new rules may have at local and regional level.
The Committee also draws attention to the fact that if the EU policy of attracting talented migrants is to prove successful, cities and regions must be actively involved in promoting the mobility of the groups.
The draft opinion will be presented for adoption at the upcoming CoR plenary session on 28 November.
***
The Commission's proposal for a 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 modifies the previously existing regulative framework by facilitating admission conditions and extending rights for this group of third-country nationals. The objective is to support 'brain circulation' and enhance cooperation with third countries, while safeguarding the rights of the migrants and minimising the risk of exploitation.