"It is key for us to have a solid strategy on the legal migration channels: they represent the safest way and the most correct way to respond to the need of qualified labor in our countries, and at the same time these legal channels offer migrants the chance to begin dignified life paths, without exposing themselves to the risks of illegal routes and to human smugglers", stated the Italian Minister of Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, speaking on 13 October at a conference of the Foundation Maire in Rome.

"It is not enough to shelter: we must also prepare [the migrants]. For this reason, we need to focus our efforts on the countries of origin, through training programs and professional qualification", underscored the Minister.

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Projects for the entry of specialized labor

"Working together with partner governments, international organizations, and businesses means creating the training paths needed even before the departure [from their country of origin], enabling workers to acquire competencies requested in the strategic sectors of our economy, and among these, in perspective, even those in the sectors related to ecological transition", explained Piantedosi.

He also added that "To pursue this goal we need a structured approach, that brings together security, productive needs, development, safeguarding human rights, and the respect of the rules".

"It is exactly in this context that, as Ministry of Interior, if on the one side we are strengthening every possible instrument to counter human smuggling, conducted by dangerous transnational consortiums, on the other hand we are coordinating a series of projects for the training in their own countries of foreign citizens to enable their entry in the national production system", stated Piantedosi.

The minister mentioned collaboration examples in Tunisia and Egypt and announced that the government is planning a similar initiative with the Italian Federation of Public Works (FIPE) for the entry of trained laborers in the sector of restoration activities.

"I am personally convinced that this is the right path to pursue for a healthy management of the migration phenomenon. These projects are a clear example of how illegality can be contrasted through a virtuous use of legal migration. In this sense, I would like to cite a statistic: approximately 60 percent of migrants who adhere to these types of projects in Tunisia, say that before this they had planned to migrate illegally, even through dangerous maritime routes", stated the Minister.

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'The migration flows are also an opportunity'

"The migration flows represent one of the most delicate challenges, and at the same time, they are not without some opportunities. They are often the result of wars, instability, climate change, and economic inequalities, but undoubtedly, if well-managed, migration flows can constitute an opportunity to strengthen our production systems and support our societies", commented again Piantedosi.

"Italy's position, at a natural crossroad in the Mediterranean, imposes upon us specific responsibilities. On the one hand, we must guarantee security, safeguard the borders and contrast criminal trafficking. On the other hand, we need to build concrete cooperation and development tools that allow for an orderly, legal, and sustainable management of migration flows," he added.

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