LABOUR MARKET: Millions of Africans could get the green light to head
to Europe in search of jobs

Saturday October 11,2008
By Nick Fagge in Mali

MORE than 50 million African workers are to be invited to Europe in a
far-reaching secretive migration deal, the Daily Express can reveal today.

A controversial taxpayer-funded job centre opened in Mali this
week is just the first step towards promoting free movement of
people in Africa and the EU .

Brussels economists claim Britain and other EU states will need
56 million immigrant workers between them by 2050 to make up for the
demographic decline due to falling birth rates and rising death
rates across‚Europe.

The report, by the EU statistical agency Eurostat, warns that vast
numbers of migrants could be needed to meet the shortfall in two years
if Europe is to have a hope of funding the pension and health needs of
its growing elderly population.

It states: Countries with low fertility rates could require a
significant number of immigrants over the coming dec­ades if they want
‚to maintain the existing number of people of working age.

Having sufficient people of working age is vital for the economy
and for tax ‚revenue.

The report, by French MEP Francoise Castex, calls for immigrants to be
given legal rights and access to social welfare provision such ‚as
benefits.

Ms Castex said: It is urgent that member states have a is not
a‚calm approach to immigration. To say ˜yes™, we need
immigration ¦ it ‚new development, we must accept it. The
proposals include the creation of a blue card system, based on
the American green card, that provides full working and welfare
rights.






Blue card holders would be entitled to move freely across ‚the EU,
setting up home in any of the 27 member states.
Last night Sir Andrew Green, of Mig­rationWatchUK said: Eng­land,
with Holland, is al­ready the most crowded country in Europe.
As it is, we have to build the equivalent of seven cities the size
of Birmingham over 25 years for the ‚immigrants the Government
already expects.
Yet again the These would be‚˜one-size-fits-all™ policy of
the EU produces absurd results. ‚ridiculous proposals if they were
applied to the Britain.
The Government must ensure that these work permits are not valid for the UK.
Higher levels of immigration are the last thing we need with a
‚recession approaching.
And Shadow Home Sec­retary Dominic Grieve said: When ministers are
talking tough about efforts to control immigration, they need to
provide a clear explanation that national policy is not being
undermined ‚through the backdoor in Brussels.
The UK Indepen­dence Party leader Nigel Farage attacked the move as
an outrage . He said: The sooner Britain gets back control of
immigration policy, the better.
The proposals " part of the Africa-EU Partnership signed in
Portugal last December " also warns of the negative effects of mass
immigration and calls for better integration of African migrants
.

It calls too for a compassionate approach to the ‚eight million
illegal immigrants already living in the EU.

It states: Irregular migrants must not be treated like criminals.
Many risk their lives seeking freedom or the means
of subsistence in Europe. As long as the EU has a higher standard of
living than those countries to its south and east, the temptation to
come will exist especially if there are jobs to be had.

The declaration calls on the EU to assist African governments to set
up migration information centres to better manage labour mobility
bet­ween Africa and the EU .

The first was the job centre opened in Bamako, capital of Other
centres are expected to open soon in other west African‚Mali, on
Monday. states and later in north Africa.

Yesterday the Daily Express revealed that, in an apparent
contradiction of immigration policy, thousands of migrants " like
Kanoute Tieny from Mali " are being given up to £5,500 in grants by
the EU to return home to Africa.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy wants to implement an EU-wide
immigration plan by the end of the year when he stands down as head of
the Council of the European Union.

This body implements policy proposed by the European Commission and
discussed by the European Parliament.

French immigration minis­ter Brice Hortefeux has represented all the
27 EU states, including Britain, in a succession of whirlwind tours
through west Africa to help create a strategy.

Last night the Home Office said the UK had nothing to do with this EU plan.

A Border Agency spokesperson said the initiative is aimed at promoting
legal migration routes in the Schengen area of the EU which the UK
opted out of. The area includes most but not all member states.
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