Italy's central and regional governments could finally reach an agreement after the interior ministry presented new guidelines in changes to the way that migrants are hosted.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said last week that the government will promote a model of 'widespread reception' for migrants and refugees arriving in Italy, effectively ruling out the creation of large reception centers in future. He added, however, that first reception facilities in the southern regions of Calabria and Sicily will continue to be expanded.
The interior ministry presented these new guidelines to regional governors in hopes of addressing the recent spike in migrant arrivals together and paving the way for stronger cooperation with local authorities through the creation of a task force for the permanent coordination with regions.
The new strategy to manage the emergency situation could replicate many aspects of the way that Ukrainian refugees were welcome in Italy in 2022.
The talks were described as "constructive" by both Piantedosi and several of the governors.
Hope of reaching an agreement
The positive climate of the talks raised hopes that there could be a sense of consensus reached with regions governed by the opposition. The regions of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Campania and Puglia, as well as Valle d'Aosta had earlier refused to ratify the six-month nationwide state of emergency on migration as decreed by the cabinet in early April.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said he felt confident that "these five regions could revise their position" following the recent talks.
Davide Baruffi, the undersecretary to Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini, appeared to agree. He commented that "if the aim is to strengthen widespread reception and establish quotas for the distribution of migrants among the territories, I believe an agreement can be found."
Musumeci, eager to reach such an agreement, also said that the government had "good reason to believe that the 40,000 people who have landed in just four months are just an appetizer compared to flows we could register in a few months," highlighting that the conflict that erupted in Sudan in recent weeks could ignite a new migration crisis.