Is it now or never for Europe to get its immigration policy right? The EU’s vaunted “Blue Card” for immigrant job-seekers should be scrapped, say critics who warn that it will aggravate Europe’s uncoordinated national policies and create a major crisis. Are EU governments handling immigration responsibly, or are they pandering to electoral fears?
We welcome readers’ comments on this, and would also recommend that they react to some of the points raised in articles in the current issue of Europe’s World by Martin Baldwin-Edwards.
Re:Is it now or never for Europe to get its immigration policy right? Miss Melinda Bronola, presented to the Spanish embassy in Manila on 20 January 2009 all documents for a 90-day holiday visa to Spain The sum of 4.000 Pesos paid and all requirements accepted as being correct. The visa was not granted stating the schengen article 5, which was not one of the original requirements. I am sponsoring her so we both went to the Spanish embassy enquiring about the schengen article 5. She was told to find out on the Internet and given a telephone number to call. When she asked how more information could be obtained, she was told to leave the embassy immediately and we were escorted out by two armed guards. The attitude of the personnel was officious, intimidating, disrespectful, offensive and a blatant misuse of authority.An appeal has been sent with a 100,000 pesos guarantee that my friend will return to the Philippines but despite numerous telephone calls letters and Emails for the past three moths no reply has been given. The acceptance of the original requirements and the sum of money paid constituted a formal contract under international law. A refusal of the visa under another requirement is a breach of contract and damages could be granted if taken to the international court of appeal.Spain signed up to the European Parliament and councils Directive 2004/38/EC to cut back administrative formalities to the bare essentials, to strengthen procedure, guarantee and reinforces the equal treatment of visa applicants. To have partnership and cooperation Agreements WITH THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES to Combat racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism and have a better relation with the third world countries. Is this now the normal way the Spanish embassy staff operates with no respect, and a complete disregard and consideration for Philippino residence who are in their own country.? Does anybody have a solution to this please?
Miss Melinda Bronola, presented to the Spanish embassy in Manila on 20 January 2009 all documents for a 90-day holiday visa to Spain The sum of 4.000 Pesos paid and all requirements accepted as being correct. The visa was not granted stating the schengen article 5, which was not one of the original requirements. I am sponsoring her so we both went to the Spanish embassy enquiring about the schengen article 5. She was told to find out on the Internet and given a telephone number to call. When she asked how more information could be obtained, she was told to leave the embassy immediately and we were escorted out by two armed guards. The attitude of the personnel was officious, intimidating, disrespectful, offensive and a blatant misuse of authority.An appeal has been sent with a 100,000 pesos guarantee that my friend will return to the Philippines but despite numerous telephone calls letters and Emails for the past three moths no reply has been given. The acceptance of the original requirements and the sum of money paid constituted a formal contract under international law. A refusal of the visa under another requirement is a breach of contract and damages could be granted if taken to the international court of appeal.Spain signed up to the European Parliament and councils Directive 2004/38/EC to cut back administrative formalities to the bare essentials, to strengthen procedure, guarantee and reinforces the equal treatment of visa applicants. To have partnership and cooperation Agreements WITH THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES to Combat racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism and have a better relation with the third world countries. Is this now the normal way the Spanish embassy staff operates with no respect, and a complete disregard and consideration for Philippino residence who are in their own country.? Does anybody have a solution to this please?
Re:Is it now or never for Europe to get its immigration policy right? Since writing that report in 2009 I have lived in Spain now for several years and have altered my perspective completely about the events that happened then. I very much regret writing that article and have changed my mind about that situation. We all react in different ways to disappointment, failure or when upset about things that wound our pride. In realize now that the authorities were only doing their job in these most difficult times, and can only apologize from the depth of my heart if I have offended or hurt anybody regarding this article. I would like to erase this from the internet as we all do things in life that we regret at a later stage and hindsight can be a wonderful healer to the heart. How can I erase this from the internet? Peter Ashley
Since writing that report in 2009 I have lived in Spain now for several years and have altered my perspective completely about the events that happened then. I very much regret writing that article and have changed my mind about that situation. We all react in different ways to disappointment, failure or when upset about things that wound our pride. In realize now that the authorities were only doing their job in these most difficult times, and can only apologize from the depth of my heart if I have offended or hurt anybody regarding this article. I would like to erase this from the internet as we all do things in life that we regret at a later stage and hindsight can be a wonderful healer to the heart. How can I erase this from the internet? Peter Ashley
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