In the Commission’s proposal, knowledge migrants will within one month get clarity on their European work permits, which will in principle be valid for two years. However, holders of the blue card will be admitted only if they can present an offer from an employer and will be earning at least three times the minimum wage in the member state of their choice. After two years the work permit may be extended. Anyone losing their job in the meantime must find another job within three months.
Knowledge migration within Europe is definitely not a matter of course. Members states can opt out of the new, which is a serious option for Austria. Countries that do participate, can still deny access to someone who switches countries within Europe, for example by using the argument that they already have sufficient engineers or doctors.
This makes the arrangement considerably less liberal than European Commissioner Frattini (Justice) initially intended. Only this summer he was still working on a five-year work permit providing for the free movement of knowledge migrants within the EU.
Nevertheless the Commission hopes to attract more knowledge migrants from Asia in particular. Most of these now turn to the United States. It was the green card from that country which served as a model for Frattini’s plan, for that matter. If the members states approve, the blue card will be introduced already in 2008. (HOP)/.