1 The current situation of the scientific visa in Europe Workshop on Scientific Visa 8 November 2010 Anna Kadar DG Research European Commission

2 The Scientific Visa Package: The World’s First Legislative Effort Supporting Researchers’ Mobility The European Commission proposed a Directive and two recommendations to improve the environment of researchers’ mobility to and within Europe Based on close co-operation between the Directorate General for Research and the then Directorate General for Justice and Home Affairs, the “scientific visa” proposed by the European Commission constituted a first legislative step in the efforts for improving the environment of researchers’ mobility. This proposal was adopted by the Council in October 2005.

3 Rationale An abundant supply of highly qualified researchers for science and technology is not only a necessary condition for advancing science and supporting innovation, it is also an important factor for attracting and sustaining investment in research. Current state of play: the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative of the EU 2020 places emphasis on attracting international talent

4 Innovation Union flagship Initiative Europe's success depends on its ability to reverse several decades of a relative 'brain-drain' and to attract leading talent. European universities and research institutes award many thousands of degrees in science and engineering to foreign nationals every year. These people should be given the option of remaining in Europe, by exploiting the possibilities under the Scientific Visa Package and the Blue Card scheme. Innovation Union commitment Nr. 30: „By 2012, the European Union and its Member States should put into place integrated policies to ensure that leading academics, researchers and innovators reside and work in Europe and to attract a sufficient number of highly skilled third country nationals to stay in Europe.”

5 Scientific Visa Package The Scientific Visa Package facilitates the procedure of admitting researchers coming from non- European countries (third-country nationals) to Europe for the purpose of scientific research. The Scientific Visa Package consists of a directive and two Recommendations. They invite the Member States to accelerate, on a voluntary basis, the implementation of the Directive and to cover supplementary issues. The aim of the Directive is to make Europe more attractive to international researchers by offering them a renewable residence permit with some privileges which differ from a normal visa: once a scientist is invited by a host research organisation in the EU to conduct a research project for more than three months, this person would be entitled to obtain a residence permit for the duration of the research project in the Member State in question, without needing to apply for a work permit.

6 A fast-track procedure for the admission of researchers The “scientific visa” concept enabled the creation of a specific residence permit for third country researchers, independent of their contractual status. Accredited research organisations play a major role in this process, as they have to certify the status of the researcher in the host country which acknowledges the existence of a valid research project, as well as the researcher’s scientific skills, financial means and health insurance. Once a Member State grants a residence permit to the researcher, he/she is free to move within all European Union Member States for the purpose of the scientific project. In addition to the much faster administrative procedure for delivering the residence permit, researchers have the possibility of submitting applications for residence permits directly to the authorities of the host Member State if they are legal residents in that country.

7 Next steps: Monitoring the Scientific Visa Package The full and efficient implementation of the Directive and of the two Recommendations by Member States is crucial to the success of facilitating the access of third country researchers in the EU and therefore ensuring optimal brain circulation both inside and outside the EU's borders. Monitoring of the European Partnership for Researchers: implementation of Scientific Visa Package by Member States (end 2011)