The European Commission proposals on the table before the legislators would make it easier for EU industry to recruit overseas workers.

The European Commission forecasts that the EU needs to open the door to an extra 20m workers over the next two decades to fill the gaps. The Commission proposals include fast-track procedures to admit "highly-qualified third country workers" and the launch of an EU version of the US' green card system for foreigners.

The "Blue EU Labour Card" would make it easer for immigrant workers to move throughout the EU for available jobs. Those who live in the EU for five consecutive years would be allowed to stay permanently.

EU legislators will also consider a proposal for a law laying out minimum working standards for unskilled immigrant workers. A one-stop shop for work permits for unskilled immigrants would co-ordinate the approval process for such workers.

The Commission has identified Germany, Italy and Hungary as the countries most in need of immigrant labour.

A Commission report released yesterday estimated that in January 2006 the number of third-country nationals residing in the EU was 18.5 million, or 3.8 per cent of the total EU population of about 493 million.

Net migration, ranging between 0.5 and 1 million per year for most of the 1990s, has increased to levels ranging between 1.5 and 2 million since 2002.

"Immigration is still the main element in EU demographic growth and positive net migration is recorded in most member states," the report stated.