Immigration and Security

An example of balance between reception and law, now recognized throughout Europe

Italy confirms itself as a leading country in European migration policies, facing with determination the challenges related to the management of migrant flows and demonstrating, once again, its commitment to balancing security and human rights. The recent debate at European level on the legitimacy of the Safe Countries decree highlights how Italy is operating in compliance with community regulations, while trying to ensure effective and sustainable control of national and European borders.

The Safe Countries decree, adopted by Italy, represents an initiative aimed at ensuring faster and more effective asylum management procedures. This measure, in line with the European directive on asylum procedures, allows some countries of origin to be classified as safe, thus reducing the time required to evaluate requests for international protection and improving the efficiency of the reception system. The aim of the decree is twofold: on the one hand, to speed up the analysis of requests from migrants coming from countries generally considered safe, such as Egypt or Bangladesh; on the other, to guarantee the individual right to a specific risk assessment, avoiding generalizations and respecting the fundamental principles of the right to asylum.

An important recognition of the Italian approach came unexpectedly from the European Commission. The Commission’s lawyer, Flavia Tomat, stated that Italy is operating in compliance with European rules, recognizing that the Asylum Procedures Directive allows Member States to designate countries of origin as safe, with the possibility of exceptions for specific categories of people. This position marks a turning point. Previously, the European Commission had been more cautious, stressing the need to ensure that accelerated border procedures fully respect the rules of the right to asylum. The Commission’s openness not only strengthens the credibility of the Italian government, but also underlines that the measures adopted are not arbitrary, but the result of careful legal and political assessment.

Italy stands out for its pragmatic and realistic approach to the migration issue. The adoption of the Safe Countries decree does not represent an indiscriminate closure, but an attempt to make asylum requests more manageable, without precluding protection to migrants who find themselves in situations of actual danger. In fact, Italian law requires that each individual request be carefully assessed, ensuring that anyone who can demonstrate that they are in conditions of risk has access to international protection. This approach avoids abuse of the asylum system and helps make the management of resources allocated to reception more efficient. The issue of migration cannot be addressed in isolation. Italy, aware of this reality, has always promoted dialogue with European institutions and other Member States to find shared and effective solutions. The adoption of the Safe Countries decree is part of a broader strategy that aims to combine security and respect for human rights, preventing the burden of managing migratory flows from falling exclusively on the countries of first arrival. In this context, the favourable position of the European Commission represents a positive signal for Italy, which demonstrates that it has a strategy in line with community objectives. Collaboration with European institutions and other Member States will be essential to ensure a fair and efficient asylum system, which can distinguish between those in need of protection and those who do not fall within the parameters set by international law.

Italy confirms itself as a country that faces migratory challenges with seriousness and responsibility. The Safe Countries decree, supported by the European Commission, demonstrates how it is possible to combine security, legality and protection of fundamental rights. The recognition by the European institutions represents an important legitimation of the work of the Italian government, highlighting the central role of Italy in the management of migration policies at the community level. In an increasingly complex international context, Italy continues to stand out for its ability to find balanced solutions, promoting dialogue and collaboration with other European countries. This spirit of responsibility and pragmatism represents a model to follow to ensure effective and supportive management of migration, while respecting the fundamental principles of the right to asylum and human dignity.

Alessandro Fiorentino