1. 8 O FORO DE DIALOGO ESPÁÑA-ITALIA TOLEDO 20 TH OCTOBER 2007 Gruppo C: Migrazioni e investimenti nel mediterraneo Stefano Micossi

2. Immigration policy in Italy and Spain

3. Italy’s immigration policy Italian immigration policy based on quotas set by government decree; legal entry on call by employer for identified job (‘sponsored’); admission managed by police/immigration The system not very successful: quotas rapidly absorbed, giving rise to illegal immigration; illegal immigrants to be expelled, but in practice less than half of those found were sent back; repeated measures of regularisation have weakened credibility of the system Immigrants’ contacts with administration mostly managed as a police affair: so they are more afraid and reticent in providing information and tend to hide. Little systematic assessment of their situation and contribution to economy and society 3

4. New law before Parliament for approval Still based on planning and job calls, but  sponsorship of immigrant job seekers broadened to include also professional and trade associations, unions, local governments; in this case, temporary entry to seek job allowed  also, self-sponsored job seekers admitted (with adequate means of self-support)  some quality assessment in country of origin (?) and quota exemption for high skills  less vexatious police procedures 4

5. Spain’s immigration policy 1.From year 2000, Spanish immigration policy has opened to legal migration, while tightening controls and sanctions on illegal immigration 2.Admission is based on criteria rather than quotas 3.Admission requirements (under 2004 law) include:  A job offer guaranteeing a job the equivalent of 6 months full time  Employers have to be registered with the social security regime in their sector  Employees have to be registered with one municipality  Municipalities have acted as access to assistance and integration services 5

6. Spanish migration policy has commendable aspects 1.The fact that immigrants have to register with municipalities make them more confident and less reticent in providing info on themselves to local authorities. 2.The regularisation system is simple and transparent. 6

7. The results obtained are remarkable  Large number of immigrants smoothly absorbed in the labour market; immigrants average education level higher then nationals’  According to government estimates, immigrant jobs accounted for more than half of GDP growth in 2001-2005  Net benefit for public sector accounts: immigrants contribute 6.6% of total revenues and receive 5.4% of total spending; they pay 7.5% of total social security contribution but receive 0.5% of total pensions, being mostly in young age cohorts  Immigration has also some indirect economic effects: increasing activity rate of national (women), reducing skill mismatches in labour market 7

8. Recent developments in the EU immigration policy

9. EU policy on legal migration: support Following the 2005 Policy Plan on Legal Migration, the Commission will soon present proposal for:  a framework directive establishing common rights for all immigrants in legal employment (equal treatment) and simplifying procedures for admission of third- country workers (single permit combining right to work and residence)  four category-specific directives concerning the admission procedures of highly skilled, seasonal workers, inter-company transferees and paid trainees.  the directive for highly qualified workers will include a fast-track entry procedure and a Blue EU Labour Card. 9

10. EU policy on illegal employment: support  In May 2007, Commission presented a proposal of directive designed to harmonise sanctions against employers who offer work to illegally residing third-country nationals.  Employers would be required to check on workers before recruitment. Employers who do not comply with these obligations will be subject to fines and other administrative measures, and be liable to criminal sanctions for serious offences 10

11. EU policy on maritime border control: strengthen The last JHA Council recommended:  concrete cooperation on border control, search and rescue and return; providing support on a bilateral basis to individual MS facing particular pressure  promotion of cooperation with third countries in order to enhance their capacity to manage their own borders;  new funds in the areas of borders, return and asylum exploited for targeted & coordinated approach On the whole, weak instruments, insufficient assumption of collective responsibility for border control, reception and return of illegal immigrants – inordinate burden on Southern countries to be shared 11

12. Common policies for immigrant selection and integration in domestic labour markets

13. Policy spillovers The European Union can contribute effective remedies to the negative spillovers that may result from uncoordinated national policies.  restrictions and selection systems in one country may affect migrants’ flows to other countries in the Union  immigration is attracted by generous welfare entitlements and their redistribution component, which in some member states has already led to a selective lowering of welfare entitlements 13

14. Two voluntary coordinated measures to manage welfare and labour market spillovers at EU level  Coordinate at EU level existing minimum wage systems and unemployment subsidy: it would act as a ‘welfare floor’ and general safety net against poverty, mitigating diversionary effects of different labour market rules in the member states and fear of undercutting amongst native workers  A ‘point system’ for the selection of applicants for residence and work permits: it allocates each applicant a score based on objective criteria, typically including language abilities, education and experience; successful experiments in Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland; UK and Germany are moving in this direction. 14

15. By combining… … a common legal framework, as already envisaged, with a point-based admission system and a ‘welfare floor’, the Union would  raise the growth impact of immigration, thanks to its higher skill content; the unskilled and those with criminal records would find it more difficult to come  create a level playing field in the labour markets, thus underpinning smooth integration of foreign workers in the labour market  native workers would be less fearful of immigration and would reduce their opposition to the free flow of labour within the EU 15