THE ITALIAN SYSTEM BETWEEN “WELCOMING SPIRIT”* AND THE ABSENCE OF INTEGRATION PROGRAMS

Abstract

In 2015 alone, more than one million migrants arrived in the European
Union, mainly Germany (and, to a lesser extent, Sweden and others). These states have
developed policies aimed at fast (fast-track) interaction in the labor market of newly
arrived third-country nationals to address the new situation. In the light of this new
reality, the Italian national asylum system has also undergone profound changes, with
inevitable repercussions on reception and integration policies. However, the sector’s
interventions pay little attention – even conceptual – to the aspects of integration. Still,
to fully enjoy the benefits of immigration, Italy should develop a proper strategy to
assure more effective integration of foreign citizens (including, but not limited, only
to so-called “newly arrived”). Of course, that presupposes both considerable financial
commitments but especially clear and strong political will.