Labour migration is a key driver of long-term economic growth, ensuring the EU’s global competitiveness and addressing current and future demographic challenges.
The EU legal migration framework offers work pathways for specific categories of non-EU nationals, including highly skilled workers, intra-corporate transferees, and seasonal workers. The Single Permit Directive, which covers most of the residence permits issued for work purposes, provides for a unified procedure and set of rights for these workers. Additionally, the EU is working on introducing the EU Talent Pool, an initiative proposed by the Commission in 2023, to further facilitate the recruitment of international talent.
These interconnected policies aim to facilitate international recruitment, establish flexible admission systems that are responsive to each EU country's priorities, while also enable migrant workers to make full use of their skills. Another strand of policies focuses on integrating migrant workers into the EU labour market.
The EU Blue Card Directive establishes the conditions of entry and residence in the EU for highly qualified non-EU nationals.
The Seasonal Workers Directive sets the conditions of entry and stay of non-EU nationals in the EU for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.
The Directive on intra-corporate transferees sets the conditions under which non-EU nationals can enter and work in the EU for an intra-corporate transfer.
The Single Permit Directive establishes a simplified application procedure and one single permit for both the right to work and stay in the EU.
The EU Talent Pool will be the first EU-wide platform for international recruitment, offering job opportunities for non-EU jobseekers interested in working in EU-wide shortage occupations.