A new step in the EU residence and work authorization

The member countries of the European Union (EU) agreed to update the regulations governing residence and work permits, as part of their search for a solution to the growing shortage of labor.

The EU Council of member states agreed on the updated version of the laws on legal immigration to the EU labor market. The upgrade comes under the EU package aimed at “attracting the necessary talents to the EU”. Therefore, the EU wants to increase regular migration and add to the labor market people who will work in the fields and professions it needs.

According to the Council’s statement, the updated version of the regulation, which is called a “single permit” and covers both residence and work permits, will facilitate the application procedure. The EU hopes that this will increase the number of “talents” to be employed outside the EU.

With the new regulation, citizens of non-EU countries will have more rights when working in the Union and will receive the same treatment as EU citizens in terms of their right to work.

Therefore, it aims to eliminate labor abuse by employers within the EU.
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden’s Immigration Minister, who holds the presidency of the European Union, said: “At a time when labor shortages are holding our companies back and preventing them from growing and renewing themselves, these companies should be able to recruit professionals foreigners more easily. An easy and predictable application process is very important. The only permit we agreed to today guarantees that.”

APPLICATION IS EASY

The law on the so-called “unique permit” regulates non-EU citizens to live and work in the EU. EU member states determine how many people from outside the EU they will grant this permission to.

According to the new regulation, a non-EU citizen may apply for this permit both inside and outside the EU. The decision to grant a permit must be made within 4 months of the application.

The holder of a “single permit” may change employer by notification or request to the competent authorities. If the permit holder becomes unemployed, he will be able to continue his stay in the EU country within two months of being unemployed within the validity date of the permit.

The current EU single permit regulation was issued in 2011. The EU Commission had proposed to update this in April 2022.

According to EU statistics, member states issued around 3 million one-time permits in 2019. Of these, 1.2 million were first-time permits, others were renewals or change permits.
The final version of the regulation will be given after negotiations between the European Council and the European Parliament. (AA)