Harmonized rules for students, researchers approved by EP

The European Parliament (EP) adopted new rules on Wednesday to make it easier for students and researchers from non-EU countries to study at EU universities.

Currently, different EU states have their own entry and resident rules for non-EU academics, in some cases highly restrictive.

Swedish Liberal MEP Cecilia Wikstrom said it was necessary to harmonize regulations on foreign students to make Europe more competitive and attractive for the best brains in the world.

"I am glad that the EU recognizes the value of attracting highly skilled people to come here and to entice them to stay by creating a harmonized European system," she said.

"Today we live in globalized world, but in the EU we have a very diverse system of rules governing how students and researchers can come to the EU and stay to complete their studies," she added.

She said she had no doubts that the new regime would make EU universities more competitive in their quest to attract "ambitious and highly educated people, helping us to create growth and jobs".

The new rules merge two existing directives - one on students and one on researchers - to ensure that both can stay at least nine months after finishing their studies or research in order to look for a job or to set up a business.

Before, the rules varied dramatically, Wikstrom said. Germany allowed people to stay for up to 18 months, whereas her home country Sweden allowed just 10 days.

"Short periods (such as in Sweden) have meant that instead of allowing us to benefit from the knowledge they have gained in Europe, we push them away to other regions, mainly the USA, Canada and Australia," she told the EP chamber.

Students and researchers will also be able to move more easily within the EU during their stay. Under the existing system non-EU students often have to apply for a new visa to move to another EU country, even for a one semester exchange. In future, they will only need to notify the member state to which they are moving.

Researchers will be able to move for longer periods than those currently allowed, and will have the right to bring their family members with them. Moreover, family members will be entitled to work during their stay, while students will have the right to work at least 15 hours a week. Previously, the maximum number of hours they could work was 10.

The new directive includes standardized entry conditions and better protection for interns and volunteers, and even non-EU au pairs, who will be covered for the first time by EU law. Endit