• Europe announced proposal for biometric short-stay visas

The European Commission (EC) plans for the introduction of new secure visas for non-EU nationals visiting and travelling in the European Union.
Participating member states will upgrade their short-stay visas with a biometric chip containing details of the holder's fingerprint. In time iris and facial scans may be added to the chip.

The moves "will reinforce internal security and facilitate legitimate travelling to the EU," the EC said in a statement. Sure to anger privacy advocates, the EC said its proposal on biometric visas "creates the legal obligation to collect fingerprints from visa applicants." The issue will be discussed further with the European Parliament and EU governments. Read: Eurogates.Forum

• The Netherlands: Minister to study Canadian immigration system

Dutch immigration and Integration Minister Rita Verdonk is to visit Canada next week. Canada serves as an example for the Netherlands in terms of immigration policy, the Dutch Justice Ministry.Verdonk, who is tipped to become the political leader of the Liberal Party (VVD) on Wednesday, will hold talks with Canadian officials about attracting knowledge immigrants and encouraging newcomers to integrate. They will also discuss border controls and techniques to prevent radicalisation.

She will meet with Monte Solberg, Citizenship and Immigration, and Stockwell Day, Public Safety in Ottawa. Verdonk will also have a meeting with Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle and visit a high school in a migrant neighbourhood.  Read: Eurogates.Forum

• The Netherlands: Five sectors open to new EU expats

Five sectors of the Dutch economy are being opened up to expats from the eight Central and Eastern Europe states that joined the European Union in 2004.
The Dutch Social Affairs Ministry announced on Wednesday that from 1 June workers from these countries will not have to obtain a work permit to take employment in the agriculture sector, inland shipping, abattoirs, fish processing, scientific research and light engineering.

The five sectors are the first to be opened up to workers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic because of an actual or threatened shortage of Dutch workers. Ahead of the opening of the borders for all sectors from 1 January next year, junior minister Henk Van Hoof is looking at quick access for nationals of the new EU states sector by sector. Polish nationals are by far the largest group of workers from the eight new EU states in the Netherlands. Read: Eurogates.Forum   

The newsletter is provided by the educational internet portal Eurogates.nl, which is established as a support and counselling organisation for everyone, who would like to follow education in the Netherlands. Read all news on line here.

http://subs.zinester.com/86386

http://archives.zinester.com/86386