Europe's plans to deal with the migration crisis include increasing the limits for legal immigration from Africa with easier visa access for certain countries.

Five African states - Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Ethiopia - will be targeted to curtail migration and incentives may also include preferential trade terms.

The European Commission today proposed a revamp of its Blue Card work permit scheme to expand legal immigration options for skilled workers and support for EU governments to give migrants training and other help to integrate in Europe. The aim is to reduce the incentive for people to try to smuggle themselves into the continent illegally on flimsy boats and put their lives at risk.

'If we ever want to compete with the US Green Card, we need an EU Blue Card that deserves the same merit,' Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

The proposals will require detailed discussion and approval by EU governments and the parliament.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Manfred Weber, conservative leader of the biggest party in the EU legislature, welcomed a move to 'speak clearly' to Africa and warned of 'trade consequences' for states that do not cooperate.

But he cautioned on expanding the Blue Card scheme, saying the priority must be jobs for Europeans before immigrants. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3629991/Europe-reveals-plan-deal-migration-crisis-INCREASE-limits-legal-immigration-Africa.html