A new package of decisions for European residency holders

European residency holders can now enjoy new facilities in the field of residence and work, as the European Parliament has issued these facilities.

This came after the decline in the European Union’s population, its aging population, and the labor shortage that is harming the country’s economy, as immigrants and investors who hold European residency will give economic, social and cultural incentives to European societies.

To obtain European residency, this is done either through long-term residency, marriage, ancestry with one of the European countries, or through residency-by-investment programs.

European Parliament decisions regarding European residency

The European Parliament has supported European residency holders with several decisions in response to demographic changes and labor market shortages in vital sectors, which has positive effects on European society and is considered a win-win role for both sides.

Members of the European Parliament voted on a package of decisions related to European residency. In their vote, they indicated their support for the updated decisions of the European Residency Programme, which is the only European residence program for non-EU citizens who will have the right to live and work there.

The report was prepared by the Spanish member of the European Union, Javier Mourinho Sanchez, and was presented to Parliament. The majority voted in favor of these decisions, with a majority of 465 yes votes and 122 opposing votes, most of whom were conservatives and members of far-right parties, and 27 members abstained from voting.

Among these decisions are accelerating the process of obtaining European residency, the eligibility of the permit holder to apply from within the European Union, the possibility of changing employer, and supporting workers by giving them 6 months to wait for unemployment and considering the delay in Portuguese residency applications.

In the previous situation, European residency holders who wanted to leave their employer had to submit a new declaration with the risk of losing their residency, housing and everything they had built up in these countries.

But in the current situation, European residency holders will be able to change their employer or the job itself without the risk of losing any of the points mentioned, and they will be able to change their jobs if they want to, and this helps in the field of professional development.

◈ A means to combat illegal immigration.

◈ Controlling human trafficking operations.

◈ Giving rights to workers who receive low wages and are treated unfairly.

◈ Strengthening coherence between various legal immigration instruments.

◈ Facilitating the access of customers from third countries to reach Europe safely.

◈ Assistance in the integration of foreign workers.

◈ Determine the number of workers required.

◈ Reduce dependence on a particular job.

◈ Supporting European companies to find the workers they need.

◈ Preventing the exploitation of foreign workers and protecting them from ill-treatment.

◈ Settle treatment with European workers and give them the same social security rights and tax benefits.

◈ Attracting the skills and talents the European Union needs.

Recent European Parliament decisions on European residency

1. Support and accelerate obtaining European residency

It was approved in the European Parliament to accelerate the processing operate for obtaining European residency from 4 months to 3 months, giving a one-month extension for complex files. This does not include the visa delivery time.

The new laws will also allow a holder of a valid European residence permit to apply to change his legal status from within the EU without having to return to his home.

2. Change of employer

Under the new laws, individuals will be able to change their employer, work sector, and profession, and one simple notification from the new employer is sufficient. National authorities will have 45 days to object to the approval and set the conditions under which the license will be subject to labor market tests.

But at the same time, European regulations stipulate that it is not possible to change the employer in the first six months unless the employment contract has been violated by the employer, for example through exploitative actions.

3. Stopping from work

Workers were also given 3 months if they stopped working, or 6 months if they had a permit for more than two years, to find new work before withdrawing their residence permit, which was previously given 2 months.

There is the possibility of expanding support and giving more leeway to the worker in the event of unemployment, such as in the case of the worker being exposed to exploitative conditions. However, even after the specified deadline has passed, workers can retain their European residence if they have proof that they can support themselves without receiving support from the social assistance system.

Are you interested in arriving in Europe through Residency by Investment or Golden Visa programs? Talk to one of our experts in the field of European residency programmes.