In a culmination of extensive deliberations, European Union governments have finally found common ground on pivotal regulations governing the EU’s long-term residence status for non-EU nationals residing in Europe.
Delving into the intricacies of this status, established under a 2003 directive, non-EU citizens can potentially secure EU-wide long-term resident status after a minimum of five years of ‘legal’ residence in an EU nation. However, the conditions are multifaceted, demanding uninterrupted presence for no more than six consecutive months and a total of ten months throughout the period. Stability in economic resources, health insurance, and potential integration conditions further contribute to the requisites. It’s a nuanced landscape, particularly for Brits governed by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Despite its existence alongside national long-term resident schemes, this EU status aims to ensure a degree of free movement within the bloc. In reality, though, many nations often necessitate employers to demonstrate the unavailability of local candidates before granting permits to non-EU citizens, irrespective of their resident status. The complexity of the application process coupled with a lack of awareness about the EU status and its associated rights pose significant challenges.
So, what reforms does the EU envision?
In a bid to enhance the appeal of the EU to non-EU workers, the European Commission proposed a revision of the EU Long-Term Residents Directive last year. This proposal, however, awaits approval from the European Parliament and the Council, representing EU governments. Notably, the European Parliament advocated reducing the required legal residence period from five to three years and suggested the possibility of aggregating periods of legal residence across different EU member states. They also emphasized the importance of counting time spent on education, vocational training, seasonal work, and temporary protection.
However, recent developments in the Council’s permanent representatives committee paint a different picture. Diplomats from EU member states agreed to maintain the five-year residency prerequisite. While acknowledging the possibility of combining residence periods in other member states, this concession is restricted to specific types of permits, such as EU Blue Cards or permits issued for highly qualified employment.
Moreover, EU governments retain the authority to impose integration conditions and assess their national labor markets when an EU long-term resident relocates for employment within the bloc. As negotiations unfold between the Council and the Parliament to finalize the legislation, the stakes are high. Eurostat data from 2020 reveals that 23 million non-EU citizens legally resided in the EU, with over ten million holding long-term or permanent residence permits.
In an exclusive interview with Danchima Media TV (DanchimaTv), Damian Boeselager, the German member leading negotiations for the European Parliament, stressed the importance of facilitating labor migration for the EU’s overall benefit. Boeselager expressed optimism that the new law would be adopted before the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
This insightful piece has been curated by Europe Street, your go-to source for all things EU-related.
