India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement: Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The Union Cabinet has provided ex-post facto approval for the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy.

Benefits: This move aims to foster stronger people-to-people contacts, facilitate mobility for students and professionals, and enhance cooperation on issues related to irregular migration.

The Migration and Mobility Agreement, signed on November 2, 2023, by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Shri Antonio Tajani.

Need for Agreement:

• The Agreement addresses the need for a formalized framework to regulate migration and mobility between India and Italy.
• By doing so, it aims to create pathways for enhanced collaboration, particularly in areas such as education, professional training, and workforce mobility.

Key Provisions:

1. Temporary Residence for Indian Students:

   - Indian students completing academic or vocational training in Italy can be granted temporary residence for up to 12 months.

   - The Agreement includes mechanisms for post-study opportunities, internships, and professional training.

2. Professional Training and Internships:

   - The Italian side outlines provisions for professional training, extracurricular internships, and curricular internships.

   - These provisions enable Indian students and trainees to gain experience in Italian skill and training standards.

3. Quotas for Non-Seasonal and Seasonal Workers:

   - The Agreement reserves quotas for non-seasonal Indian workers (5000, 6000, and 7000 for 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively) and seasonal Indian workers (3000, 4000, and 5000 for 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively) under the current Flows Decree.

   - The Italian side offers incremental reserved quotas for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 2023-2025.

4. Joint Working Group (JWG):

   - The Agreement formalizes joint working on mobility pathways between India and Italy.

   - Agreements on Youth Mobility and the facilitation of recruitment of Indian professionals in the healthcare and medical services sectors will be discussed under the JWG.

5. Cooperation Against Irregular Migration:

   - The Agreement formalizes cooperation between the two nations in combating irregular migration, addressing a shared concern.

 Implementation and Monitoring:

• The Agreement outlines a mechanism for monitoring through a Joint Working Group (JWG).
• The JWG will periodically meet, either virtually or physically, to oversee the implementation of the Agreement, share relevant information, and discuss proposals for its effective execution.

Duration and Renewal:

• The Agreement will come into effect on the first day of the second month following the completion of internal procedures by both parties.
• It will remain in force for five years and will be automatically renewed for successive periods unless terminated by any participant.