La Strada Documentation Center

EU Single Permit Directive: a small step forward in EU migration policy

Document number
2909
Date
2012
Title
EU Single Permit Directive: a small step forward in EU migration policy
Author/publisher
The European Policy Centre
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Guidelines/Recommendations, Media/News,
Keywords
Reflection period, Residency permit, Identification, Social assistance, Victim protection, Shelter, Repatriation, Empowerment, Redress, Advocacy, Civil society, NGO, Human Rights approach, Identification (of Victims) Protection, Victims of trafficking, Trafficked persons, Integration, Social Inclusion
Summary
After four years of lengthy negotiations, which spanned a Treaty change and the empowerment of the European Parliament as co-legislator, the EU's ‘Single Permit Directive' (Directive 2011/98/EU) was finally adopted and published in the Official Journal. The Directive establishes a single application procedure for single permits for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of an EU Member State, and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State. At a time when discussions on migration and legal migration issues are ongoing in the European Parliament and the Council, Yves Pascouau with Sheena McLoughlin show in their policy brief that the "EU Single Permit Directive" merely constitutes a small step forward in EU migration policy. Although the adoption of a new text can be seen as a success, it fails to generate much enthusiasm as it remains narrow in its scope and content, and does not further enhance harmonisation.
Related documents