LATIN EU COUNTRIES SEEK NEW APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION
While northern European EU countries continue to press for restrictive immigration policies based on the policing and criminalisation of immigrants, recent developments suggest that European countries of Latin culture are cautiously seeking to move away from prevailing inhumane and unrealistic "zero immigration" policy goals.
In Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium, two insights seems to be gaining ground: controlled legal immigration is better than illegal immigration, and immigrants are badly needed in a continent with an ageing population. Recent developments in Italy and Spain hint at what could be the beginning of a shift in European immigration policies.
Italy: massive rise in the number of legal immigrants
In the last eight years the number of legal immigrants in Italy has risen by 60 per cent, according to an annual report by the Catholic charity, Caritas.
Of a total of 1,250,214 legal immigrants, more than 85 percent came from non-EU countries. Moroccans topped the list with 146,000 persons, followed by Albania with 92,000. The Philippines, USA, Tunisia, ex-Yugoslavia, China, Romania, Senegal and Sri Lanka are the other main countries of origin of legal immigrants in Italy.
More than half of the legal immigrants live in northern Italy, 29 percent in the centre, 11 percent in the south, and 5.5 percent in Sicily and Sardinia.
Caritas claims that without future immigration Italy's population would drop from currently 57.5 million to 34.1 million by 2046. This would amount to a population decrease of 60 percent.
The Caritas report got backing from two members of the Italian government. The Social Solidarity Minister, Ms Livia Turco, attended the charity's press conference at which the report was presented. "These figures highlight the reality of immigration which politicians constantly ignore", the Minister said. The Deputy Interior Minister, Alberto Maritati said that, given its need for a work force, Italy could accept up to 60,000 immigrants next year. He stressed that as many people as possible should be allowed legal entry into Italy with a view to liberating them from the hands of smugglers.
Early this year, the Italian government decided to grant stay permits to certain categories of illegal immigrants. 300,000 applications were filed, of which 150,000 have been finally approved in the meantime.
Source: Agence France Presse, 19.10.99.Spain eases entry and stay for Moroccan migrant workers
Taking many European governments by surprise, Spain and Morocco signed an agreement on migrant workers on 1 October that is expected to both reduce the level of uncontrolled immigration and regulate the entry of workers desperately needed by the Spanish economy.
The agreement establishes two basic principles. The first stipulates equal rights to Moroccan and Spanish temporary workers. Temporary workers will all come under the same wage structure under Spanish law and are to benefit from social security coverage, retirement benefits, and a right to vacation days. Most importantly, however, they are to have freedom of movement.
The second principle pertains to facilitated integration of migrant workers into Spanish society. Among other things, the agreement provides opportunities for long-term legal stay for Moroccans who have completed four years of temporary work.
Commentators in Spain have expressed hope that the agreement will do some damage to the flourishing business of migrant smugglers and limit the loss of life resulting from the risks taken by boat people crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.
Highlighting the precedent-setting character of the agreement, the Moroccan Minister of Labour, Khalid Alioua, said in Madrid: "It is an important agreement because it brings to an end fifteen years of restrictive management and intense security in the area of migration. It is important because it was signed with a country that is a member of the Schengen area. Finally, it is important because it introduces a new approach in managing migration into Europe". Alioua went on to stress that "this agreement is a strategic step that other European countries will watch closely".
Indeed, by admitting foreign workers into its own territory, Spain is admitting workers into the European space, although on a temporary basis only. This is likely to cause headaches in government offices in Vienna, Berlin and Stockholm.
Source: North Africa Journal, 22.10.99