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India recently sealed its Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy, gaining a nod of approval from the Union Cabinet. The agreement aims at strengthening relations concerning irregular migration while enhancing the bond between the residents of both countries. Let’s delve deeper into what this agreement entails and the existing ties between India and Italy.
Understanding the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy
The Migration and Mobility Agreement seeks to pave the way for better mobility options across diverse segments such as students, skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and budding professionals. By allowing transit and collaboration between these groups, the agreement fuels the exchange of ideas, culture, and expertise.
One pivotal provision under this agreement is the ‘Temporary Residence for Indian Students’. This provision allows graduates who wish to gain professional exposure in Italy after their academic or vocational courses to secure temporary residency permits for up to 12 months.
Another key feature is the ‘Reserved Quotas for Workers’, outlining specific quotas for non-seasonal and seasonal Indian workers for the years 2023-2025. These quotas are established under the Italian government’s annual “Flows Decree” (Decreto Flussi), which decides on the maximum count of non-EU citizens permitted for work or self-employment in Italy.
The agreement is set to be valid for five years, with provisions for automatic renewal barring any termination. A Joint Working Group (JWG) shall be responsible for monitoring its execution, arranging regular meetings to evaluate progress and suggest supportive measures for effective implementation.
Get to Know Italy
Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula located in southern Europe, extending into the Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, among other waters. International borders of Italy include Austria, France, Vatican City, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland. It also shares maritime borders with numerous countries like Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Greece, Libya, Malta, Montenegro, Spain, and Tunisia.
Italy follows a Republic form of government with Rome as its capital. The currency used here is the Euro.
Unveiling India-Italy Cooperation Areas
India and Italy, both being ancient civilizations yet young states, have a history of trade relations through Italian port cities on the spice route. Notably, Venetian merchant Marco Polo included India in his 13th-century travels to the east, documenting his experiences significantly.
Political relations were established between these two nations in 1947 and rose to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023. The bilateral trade value for 2022-23 was approximately USD 14.25 billion, with Italy ranking among India’s top five trading partners in the European Union.
Security-wise, the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) enhances defense cooperation between the two countries. In addition to all these initiatives, India and Italy are also collaborators in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, Global Biofuel Alliance, and Blue-Raman project.
