Assessment and Implementation of the “Scientific Visa Package” (Researchers Directive 2005/71/EC and Recommendation 2005/761/EC)

In 2005 the European Commission adopted the "Scientific Visa" package to make scientific careers more attractive and open up the Community to third-country nationals who might be admitted for the purposes of research. The package includes Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific procedure for admitting third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research and Recommendation 2005/761/EC aiming to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research. This ICMPD study, commissioned by the European Commission, covers the implementation and impact of the aspects of the package covered in the Directive and the Recommendation in all 27 EU member states. This forms part of a broader study on human resource policies and practices in research, on the “Scientific Visa” package and on the implementation of pan-EU pension schemes targeted at researchers. This is to provide support for a monitoring system on national policies on human resources in research and on their effects at the level of research organisations, foreseen in the 2009 People Specific Programme of the 7th Framework Programme. This should lead to improved knowledge of policy developments and actions on human resources in the European Research Area and their effects at the level of research organisations and improve the knowledge base for future policy developments. Specific aims • to conduct a conformity analysis of the legal and administrative framework in the 27 EU Member States for implementation of the Directive and Recommendation • to analyse the institutional set-up and implementation in practice of the provisions of the two legal instruments in the 27 EU Member States • to evaluate the impact of the research residence permits and visas on the basis of both quantitative and qualitative data and research • to identify any potential difficulties in implementation and suggestions for improvement • to identify good practices in relation to the implementation of the Directive and the Recommendation Outcomes Comparative report on Directive 2005/71/EC in 27 EU Member States: • Conformity analysis of how Member States have transposed the Directive into national law • Statistical analysis illustrating the impact of the Directive in quantitative terms • Assessment of the impact of the Directive, and identification of difficulties and good practices in its implementation, through extensive national and EU-level research and questionnaires Comparative report on Recommendation 2005/761/EC in 27 EU Member States • Analysis of the national legal and/or administrative frameworks relating to the Recommendation • Account of the authorities responsible and the institutional and procedural set-up for the implementation of these provisions • Assessment of the impact of the Recommendation, and identification of difficulties and good practices in its implementation, through extensive national and EU-level research and questionnaires