The European Union plans to make it easier for people from non-EU countries to migrate to Europe and work there.
"We are planning a new migration initiative," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in an interview published today.
"The aim of this strategy is to stem illegal immigration, to encourage the flow of legal migrants and to remedy a lack of skilled labour in some EU economies," Ms Ferrero-Waldner said.
She said by simplifying visa regulations, it would be easier for people from non-member states to come to work in Europe.
EU member states will still be able to choose how many people they allow in, but the new initiative is aimed at widening the scope of the EU's free movement policy, where citizens in the 27-nation bloc can move between member states.
Germany, Europe's largest economy, said last month it would open its doors to engineers from eastern Europe earlier than planned to help compensate for a shortage of skilled workers in the sector that risks holding back economic growth.