Canada is ready to accept 300,000 migrants a year
Due to an acute shortage of labor, Canada intends to accept significantly more immigrants. As an official government spokesman reported, over the next five years the authorities are ready to allow 300,000 foreigners to enter the country for permanent residence annually. This year, Canada's immigration authorities expect an influx of approximately 245,000 migrants.
Czechs to attract Ukrainians to government project
From January 1, 2006, Ukrainians will be able to participate in the Czech government project “Selection of Qualified Workers from Abroad.” This was announced at a press conference in Kyiv by the project manager of the Czech Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Vita Ivanovitsova, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
The main goal of the project is to attract qualified workers from abroad along with their families to fill labor vacancies for which workers cannot be found from the Czech Republic or other European Union countries. “We want to open the doors as wide as possible to legal migrants and thus counteract illegal migration. That is, to equalize the rights of legal migrants with local Czech workers and prevent negative consequences for illegal migrants,” said V. Ivanovitsova.
According to her, unemployment in the Czech Republic currently stands at about 9%. At the same time, experts estimate that by 2030 there will be about 420,000 job vacancies in the Czech Republic.
According to V. Ivanovitsova, the main criteria for Ukrainians to participate in the project are having at least a secondary specialized education, a contract with a Czech employer based on an employment agreement, a work visa for more than 90 days, or a long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment. Ukrainians wishing to find employment in the Czech Republic will need to score a certain number of points in accordance with all the above requirements. Those who meet the necessary criteria, along with their families, will have the opportunity to find employment in the Czech Republic and obtain permission for permanent residence in that country.
The project began its work in July 2003. Since then it has been operating in Bulgaria, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus, Canada, as well as Serbia and Montenegro.
A representative of the Czech Ministry of Labor informed that as of the end of September, more than 35,000 Ukrainians were legally employed in the Czech Republic. At the same time, there is information that up to 160,000 Ukrainian citizens work illegally in that country.
By the way, according to the STB TV channel, more than 450 Ukrainians have died while working abroad over the past six months. The highest number of deaths was recorded in Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Russia. And the leaders in the number of citizens who went abroad for work are the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Donetsk regions, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Germany introduces new biometric passport
Germany has become the first EU country to introduce a new-style passport with an electronic microchip containing the holder's biometric data from November. According to ITAR-TASS, the new identity document provides a higher level of protection against forgery and simplifies border control.
At the initial stage, biometric data will be taken only from the citizen's face, and from March 2007, digitally processed fingerprints of two fingers will be added. To exclude manipulation of biometric data, a digital signature is being introduced. The entry of this data into a centralized electronic file is not provided for.
European countries gradually introduce the euro
The Republic of Cyprus will put into circulation the single European currency, which will replace the Cypriot pound, from January 1, 2008. This was announced by an official representative of the Cypriot government, Kypros Chrysostomidis, as reported by Gazeta.Ru.
“After discussions and assessment of the facts, the cabinet of ministers agreed to the proposal to join the eurozone from January 1, 2008,” said Kypros Chrysostomidis. He also added that in the period before 2008, the finance minister of Cyprus will report to the government every six months on the progress of preparations for the replacement of the national currency.
On April 30, 2005, the Republic of Cyprus joined the European exchange rate mechanism, which allows the euro to be introduced into circulation in the country after two years. At the same time, the Cypriot government is obliged to conduct a balanced budget policy for two years, keeping inflation at a level acceptable in the EU.
Gradually, more and more countries are seeking to introduce the euro as their main currency. In 2008-2009, Poland is planning to introduce the euro into circulation. Polish President Lech Kaczynski has already spoken in favor of holding a referendum on the introduction of the common European currency in his country. The Slovenian Prime Minister is confident that his state will be able to introduce the euro as early as 2007. Lithuania plans to introduce the euro around the same time. And in the Czech Republic, authorities say that the euro will be introduced no earlier than 2013.