Mumbai: The European Union is planning a "blue card", that offers financial and housing benefits and fast-track approvals, to attract highly skilled migrants.

The scheme, proposed by the European Commission, would make it easier for them to work in another EU country, have their family join them, receive public housing and get long-term residency status and a fast-track procedure to get work permits, according to the draft proposals.

To be eligible for a "blue card'', a migrant would need an EU job contract of at least one year guaranteeing a salary of at least three times the minimum wage in the country concerned plus health insurance, the draft says.

EU is trying to compete with the US `green card'' system for attracting best-qualified migrant labour. Europe as a whole also needs to plug labour gaps in its ageing population.

The EU as a whole is generally less attractive to highly qualified professionals vis-a-vis the US or Canada.

The scheme, however, must gain approval from all 27 member states and faces resistance in some countries, notably Germany.