Is Green Better than Blue? The Danish JHA Opt-out and the Unilateral Attempt to Attract Highly Skilled Labour

Abstract:

In 20–30 years Denmark will, just like the rest of the EU, be in need of an increasing number of highly skilled workers from outside the EU to sustain its welfare society. While the EU has adopted a common Blue Card aiming at making it possible for foreign workers to live and work in most of the EU, Denmark has, due to its opt-out in Justice and Home Affairs, chosen its own Green Card Scheme. This article looks into this choice and compares the recent Danish attempt to attract high skilled workers with the Blue Card directive. It analyses the differences and similarities between the two schemes and investigates why initiatives to attract highly skilled workers have not been successful at either the Danish nor the European level.