E.U. Plans Relaunch of Migrant Work Permit Program
The European Union looked set to propose a relaunch of a migrant work permit program across its 28 member states on Tuesday.
The so-called Blue Card scheme was created in 2012, in a bid to bring in skilled workers to replenish the E.U.’s workforce. But over the past four years, the program has rarely been used – only 13,852 Blue Card work permits were issued in 2014, with Germany issuing nearly 87 percent of them, according to the BBC.
Ramping up the Blue Card program is the E.U.’s latest attempt at curbing the influx of illegal migrants entering Europe.
In addition to the work permit plan, the European Commission presented a proposal to increase aid to African and Middle Eastern countries in hopes of limiting immigration to Europe. Immigration partnerships with countries such as Libya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Jordan could eventually see the distribution of up to 62 billion euros ($70 billion) in aid, said E.U. migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, according to the BBC.
“Millions of people are on the move worldwide, and we can only manage this if we act globally, in full partnership,” E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our goal, while staying focused on saving lives at sea and dismantling smugglers’ networks, is to support the countries that host so many people and foster growth in our partner countries.”
Jordanian Intelligence Officers Killed in Refugee Camp Attack
At least five Jordanian intelligence officers were killed on Monday in an attack on their two-story security compound on the edge of a Palestinian refugee camp.
“The intelligence agency office in the Baqaa camp was the target of a cowardly attack shortly before 7 a.m. (local time) today that left five agents dead,” Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Momani told Agence France Presse (AFP).
Jordanian officials have branded the assault a “terrorist attack,” with Momani adding that those behind the attack were “criminal elements that don’t represent our moderate religion,” according to the Associated Press.
A suspect, Mahmoud Masharfeh, was arrested on Tuesday. Security authorities said Masharfeh allegedly used an automatic weapon in the shooting and was believed to be acting alone, according to Al Jazeera.
The Baqaa refugee camp is the largest Palestinian enclave in Jordan, located on the outskirts of the capital Amman.
Paris Police Perform 23rd Migrant Camp Evacuation of the Year
Paris police cleared out 2,000 migrants from a makeshift camp on Monday. This was the 23rd evacuation operation of its kind in the past year.
Migrants living in the makeshift camp at Jardins d’Eole in the 18th arrondissement in northern Paris were put on buses and escorted to processing centers. The majority would be relocated and dispersed across 60 different locations in the city, according to The Local.
Earlier this month, French security forces evicted around 1,300 migrants from a makeshift camp near a Paris metro station to be taken by bus to reception centers. This was the third such evacuation at the camp since February.
Paris has seen a major influx of migrants over the last two years, particularly from Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea.
Last week, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that the city would open an arrival center for new migrants in the near future. City officials were still “assessing different sites” but said the location would be announced soon, according to AFP.
“I hope that the center will be a welcoming place to evaluate these people’s situations, and also a site that allows the lodging of those in need,” Hidalgo said last week.
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