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Luxembourg, a major financial hub of Europe, has hinted it would ease visa restrictions for Indian professionals in specific areas of employment.
"We will look at relaxing visa rules in specific sectors," said Luxembourg's Economic Minister Jeann Krecke. His statement was in response to criticism from visiting Indian journalists who pointed out that the overall visa regime in Europe was not friendly toward movement of Indian professionals, particularly in the Information Technology sector.
Many people will be affected by the recent changes to the United Kingdom's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). Those already under the programme will be required to qualify under the new points based system when their term expires.
Ireland will no longer process asylum applications from citizens of Romania or other European Union members, the government announced recently in a further tightening of the country's immigration laws.
2006 saw changes that will affect many immigrants in the UK. Those on a work permit or on HSMP or an ancestry visa in the UK will have to wait longer and have to meet more stringent criteria to gain permanent residence.
The Republic of Moldova will get two new consulates to help stem the tide of visa applications for Romania that have surged after Romania joined the European Union on 01 January 2007. Romania introduced a new visa regime for Moldova upon its accession to the bloc.