Policy recommendations

  • To address the internal push factors for migration, the EU should provide adequate assistance to developing countries and achieve the target of 0.7% of GDP for development cooperation. It should help developing countries to devise effective strategies to retain highly skilled workers, e.g. through development programmes aimed at improving local employment opportunities and working conditions. This is especially necessary in the health sector.
  • The EU should provide targeted investments to train, deploy and retain staff in developing countries who are working in sensitive sectors such as education and health. The EU should also provide long-term budgetary support to underpin the domestic financing of those sectors.
  • The EU should ensure that all its member states sign a legally binding commitment that includes the private sector in order to prevent active recruitment in developing countries. Such a code of practice should address country- or region-specific needs. Furthermore, in order to ensure compliance, the EU should set up a formally constituted body with an oversight and watchdog role in the EU and developing countries.
  • To prevent a negative impact on source countries, the EU should introduce concrete measures to encourage the permanent return of Blue Card holders. Within the EU the portability of social rights should be facilitated. In developing countries, migrants should be offered benefits in order to encourage their return.
  • If the EU attracts workers whose education and training have been provided by their home countries, then these countries of origin should be appropriately compensated for having provided these skills. 
  • The EU should encourage its member states to strengthen their own (national) workforce policies in all sectors in order to become less dependent on foreign workers from less developed countries.

Case: Blue Card

01-04-2010 MEP Neuser Raises Concern for Brain Drain at JPA

Norbert Neuser, from the Socialists & Democrats, asks the Commission what the EU is doing to mitigate the impacts of international migration of health personnel. He raises the concern for the shortage of health workers in ACP countries, due to the increased demand and competition for medical and nursing staff in the EU and other OECD countries. He points out that one in four doctors and one in twenty nurses trained in Africa are working in Europe, Canada and the USA. This lack of health workers is a key constraint for local health systems in poor countries are therefore something needs to done about it.

Brain Drain, which is what Neuser is concerned about, is a common problem within the international arena. The EU´s migration policy is not supporting the combat of brain drain. The enforcement of the Blue Card which is meant to attract highly qualified migrants like health workers, is an example of this. The incoherence between the EU migration policies and the development policy is evident.

For his concerns expressed towards health workers for development we recognize Member of European Parliament (MEP) Neuser (S&D) as Fair Politician.

Monitor fair: S&D

 
Parliamentary Question
29 March 2010
19th JPA Session
Question by Norbert Neuser (S&D) to the Commission

Subject: Shortage of health personnel in ACP countries
The shortage and misdistribution of health workers is a problem in ACP countries, where lack of health workers is a key constraint for local health systems: The shortages is worsened by increased demand and competition for medical and nursing staff in EU Member States and other OECD countries. On average, one in four doctors and one in twenty nurses trained in Africa are working in Europe, Canada and the USA.

What is the EU doing to promote, support and implement effective multilateral solutions through the UN and the WHO that could better mitigate the negative impacts of international migration of health personnel?