Immigration law

Security forces and Coast Guard units rescued approximately 24,000 migrants in Turkish seas last year, while 20 lost their lives on perilous routes, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry has announced.

BELGRADE - Over 50,000 work permits were issued to foreign workers in Serbia last year, and the majority of them were Russians, the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia said on its website, quoting figures released by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Veteran and Social Affairs.

The Greek economy currently needs workers, especially in sectors such as agriculture, where the shortages are great. 

The logical option would be to give work permits to foreigners, many of whom are already working in the country as undeclared laborers. 

More than 2,100 people, including children, women and people with disabilities, are alleged to have been victims of informal pushbacks during 2022, according to figures derived from the annual report of the Recording Mechanism that monitors, records and reports incidents of informal forced returns for the National Human Rights Commission.

The European Union is in a "global race" with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to scoop up skilled migrants, the European Commission has acknowledged.

"Europe is engaged in a global race for talent, the same way that we are fighting a global race for raw materials, for energy," Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said.

A leading international medical charity alleged Thursday that testimony from dozens of migrants over the past two years points to a "recurring practice" of secret, illegal and often brutal deportations back to Turkey from two eastern Greek islands.

Germany wants to lower its citizenship requirements following the example of France, the government announced, continuing its reform program to tackle labor shortages, EURACTIV reported.

German citizenship law has long been known for being particularly restrictive.

Interior Ali Yerlikaya Minister has announced that the measures to detect and combat illegal migration will continue to intensify following the evening inspections conducted last week.

The fight against irregular migration has been identified as a top priority by the ministry, with efforts being made not only in Istanbul but also across all 81 provinces, Yerlikaya said.

The national Employment Service has poured cold water on the notion promulgated by business that there is not enough labour available in Balkan countries to meet Slovenia's growing labour needs, but it suggested companies need to be more proactive in recruitment and offer better pay.

The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued 84 irregular migrants pushed back by Greek authorities off the northwestern province of Çanakkale.

The teams initiated an operation after receiving information that a group of irregular migrants was drifting off Çanakkale's Ayvacık district.