Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy

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Context

The Union Cabinet, has given retrospective (ex-post facto) approval for India to officially sign and ratify the Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy.

Details

This agreement will allow Indian students to be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to one year after completing their studies.
This agreement aims to strengthen people-to-people connections and promote mobility between India and Italy among students, skilled workers, business professionals, and young talents.
The move will further reinforce the existing Italian visa framework, introducing mechanisms for post-study opportunities, internships, and professional training.
This positions India at an advantage within the current labour mobility pathways under Italy’s Flows Decree.
For Indian students seeking to gain professional experience after their academic or vocational training in Italy, the agreement grants them temporary residence in the country for up to 12 months.
Italy, reciprocally, has outlined specific provisions for professional training and internships, providing a platform for Indian students and trainees to meet the Italian skill and training standards.
Additionally, the agreement distributes quotas for non-seasonal and seasonal Indian workers, for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, allocating around 5,000, 6,000, and 7,000, as well as 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 workers, respectively, as the current Flows Decree regulates. This provision creates new opportunities for Indian workers to contribute to the Italian workforce as well as gain valuable international experience.
Beyond student and worker mobility, the agreement regulates joint efforts to advance mobility pathways through agreements on Youth Mobility.
It also addresses the facilitation of recruitment of Indian skilled workers in the healthcare and medical services sectors.
The agreement also includes the joint efforts of the two nations in combating irregular migration.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the significance of the Migration and Mobility Agreement in the context of international relations and its impact on the movement of people across borders. Elaborate on the key provisions and considerations that nations need to address when entering into such agreements, highlighting its implications for economic, social, and cultural aspects. Provide examples of countries that have successfully implemented Migration and Mobility Agreements and the lessons that can be drawn for India's potential engagement in such agreements.