Wednesday, October 06, 2010

25% of new babies in Italy are foreigners


  Twenty five percent of new born babies have foreign parents and almost 30% of young people aged between 25 and 29 years old are immigrants, a new survey on the population of Turin has revealed.In spite of the high number of new immigrants in Italy, the population of the country is not growing at all. In a place like Turin where there are 88,394 foreign residents, the general population of the residents in the city has grown by just 7,954.

According to the Registry Office of the City Council of Turin that carried out the survey, the population of the city between 2003 and 2009 has got to a point of no growth.

The survey also revealed that immigrant women are now giving birth to less children, compared to their fellow citizens back home. Their birth rate has decreased by 0,6% from 2,7 in 2004 to 2,1 in 2008 while the birth rate of Italian women is 1,4.

At the same time, the report revealed that the number of young people aged between 25 and 29 years old has decreased by 19,4% while that of those aged between 30 and 34 years old has decreased by 16,1%.

The population of adults aged over 79 years old has increased by 24%, reaching 60,571 in 2008 from 48,789 of 2003.

Immigrant children best performers at school

Three out five best students at the Sassetti Peruzzi Professional Institute in Florence are second generation immigrants. 

The excellent performance of Brisa Lutaj, Francesco Cheng and Anna Wiktoria Redel disapproved those who have been claiming that the presence of foreign students lowers class performance. “We take our studies seriously because we consider them our only way out,” said Brisa, adding that: “I see many Italian students not taking their studies seriously, that makes me hungry.” 

“As it happened to the second and third generation Italians abroad, even the children of immigrants in Italy can attain higher education and even obtain higher grades than Italians,” said Carlo Melegari, Director of Centro Studi Immigrazione (Cestim) in Verona. He said foreign students face many difficulties but they should be helped to better integrate themselves into the education system. Their ability to overcome obstacles together with their parents’ higher expectations can be added advantages to their becoming model students, Mr. Melegari said. 

The determination of second generation immigrant students is clearly evident for example, during summer Italian language courses organised by Cestim. So many children of immigrants go to school for four hours a day in July and August when their Italian counterparts are having fan at the beach.

Foreigners make up 6.4% of EU population


By 1st January 2009, 31.9 million foreign citizens were living in the 27 EU Member States (EU27), of which 11.9 million were citizens of another EU27 Member State. The remaining were citizens of countries outside the EU27, in particular from other European countries (7.2 million), Africa (4.9 million), Asia (4.0 million) and the American continent (3.3 million). Foreign citizens accounted for 6.4% of the total EU27 population, a report by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union shows.

In 2009, the largest numbers of foreign citizens were recorded in Germany (7.2 million persons), Spain (5.7 million), the United Kingdom (4.0 million in 2008), Italy (3.9 million) and France (3.7 million). More than 75% of the foreign citizens in the EU27 lived in these Member States.

Among the EU27 Member States, the highest percentage of foreign citizens in the population was observed in Luxembourg (44% of the total population), followed by Latvia (18%), Cyprus and Estonia (both 16%), Spain (12%), Ireland (11%) and Austria (10%). The percentage of foreign citizens was 1% or less in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

In 2009, 37% of the foreign citizens living in the EU27 were citizens of another EU27 Member State. The largest groups were from Romania (2.0 million or 6% of the total number of foreign citizens in the EU27), Poland (1.5 million or 5%), Italy (1.3 million or 4%) and Portugal (1.0 million or 3%). Among the citizens of countries outside the EU27, the largest groups were from Turkey (2.4 million or 8% of the total number of foreign citizens in the EU27), Morocco (1.8 million or 6%) and Albania (1.0 million or 3%).

On average in 2009, foreign citizens living in the EU27 were significantly younger than the population of nationals (median age 34.3 years compared with 41.2 years). This was true in all Member States except Estonia, Latvia and Poland. The largest differences were recorded in Italy (32.3 compared with 43.9), Finland (33.0 compared with 42.1) and Denmark (32.1 compared with 41.0).

Amongst foreign citizens, those from countries outside the EU27 were younger than those from other EU27 Member States (median age 33.0 years compared with 36.9 years).

Call for joint efforts to fights human trafficking


Partnership among public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations is essential to effectively fight trafficking in human beings, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, has said.

Addressing a high-level meeting at the Council of Europe on 13th September, Ms. Giammarinaro announced the plans to expand the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons, a unique platform of over 40 partner organizations, to address more effectively the new features of trafficking.

"It is vital to join efforts in order to tackle the main problem we face nowadays," Ms. Giammarinaro told the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

"Today we are launching a broad discussion on expanding Alliance membership. A larger partnership is crucial to step up our anti-trafficking action, especially in the field of trafficking for labour exploitation, which to date has not been adequately addressed worldwide,” she said.
Ms. Giammarinaro observed that human trafficking “shows a growing trend and affects many economic sectors, including agriculture, construction and domestic work."

The OSCE has worked actively promoting multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnership in anti-trafficking action. The Alliance against Trafficking in Persons, established in 2004 and hosted by the Special Representative, is an informal forum for stronger co-operation for mutual benefit, based on shared goals and voluntary participation.

Particular attention to be paid to advancing co-operation on migration issues


Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, have travelled to Libya to meet representatives of the Libyan government to discuss the state of bilateral relations, two years after the start of negotiations on an EU-Libya Framework Agreement.

Particular attention will be paid to advancing the EU-Libya co-operation on migration issues, particularly improving the protection of refugees but also border control, co-operation with countries of origin etc.

Before leaving for Tripoli, Commissioner Füle said: “Over the past three years, relations between the EU and Libya have developed well. We share important common interests in areas such as trade, energy and the security and development of Africa." Commissioner Malmström added that: "Developing a balanced cooperation with Libya on all dimensions of migration is an important priority for the EU.”

At the European Councils of June and October 2009, European leaders underlined the need for a significant strengthening of cooperation with the main countries of origin and transit of irregular migration in the Mediterranean region and invited the Commission to explore concrete cooperation with third countries. The visit of Commissioners Malmström and Füle is intended to conclude the process of negotiations with Libya on an ambitious and multi-dimensional ‘cooperation agenda’, covering all aspects related to migration.

This agenda is intended to cover issues ranging from border security to protection of migrants, mobility among the parties and increased cooperation with countries of origin in Africa. The Commission’s delegation also intends to get a better understanding of the challenges faced by Libya in the fight against trafficking of human beings, and in the fight against illicit trafficking and terrorism at its southern borders.

In November 2008 the Commission and Libya launched negotiations for an EU-Libya Framework Agreement providing for political dialogue and cooperation on foreign policy and security issues; for a free trade area as deep and comprehensive as possible; and for cooperation in key areas of common concern such as energy, transport, migration, visa, justice and home affairs, environment and other topics like maritime policy and fisheries, education and health.

The Commission said that negotiations are making good progress. The eighth negotiation session took place recently in Brussels while the ninth round is scheduled to take place in mid November in Tripoli.

In the context of the development of relations with Libya, the Commission and Libya have agreed in June 2010 on a Memorandum of Understanding providing for EU technical assistance and cooperation for the period from 2011 to 2013. This programme will focus on three priorities: improving the quality of human capital, in particular supporting health reform; increasing the sustainability of economic and social development, in particular supporting trade reform and the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); and addressing jointly the challenge of managing migration.

To support the expanding list of bilateral activities, the Commission has also decided to open an Office in Tripoli. This Office, which should become operational in early 2011, should remain under the authority of the EU Delegation in Tunis.

Particular attention to be paid to advancing co-operation on migration issues


Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, have travelled to Libya to meet representatives of the Libyan government to discuss the state of bilateral relations, two years after the start of negotiations on an EU-Libya Framework Agreement.

Particular attention will be paid to advancing the EU-Libya co-operation on migration issues, particularly improving the protection of refugees but also border control, co-operation with countries of origin etc.

Before leaving for Tripoli, Commissioner Füle said: “Over the past three years, relations between the EU and Libya have developed well. We share important common interests in areas such as trade, energy and the security and development of Africa." Commissioner Malmström added that: "Developing a balanced cooperation with Libya on all dimensions of migration is an important priority for the EU.”

At the European Councils of June and October 2009, European leaders underlined the need for a significant strengthening of cooperation with the main countries of origin and transit of irregular migration in the Mediterranean region and invited the Commission to explore concrete cooperation with third countries. The visit of Commissioners Malmström and Füle is intended to conclude the process of negotiations with Libya on an ambitious and multi-dimensional ‘cooperation agenda’, covering all aspects related to migration.

This agenda is intended to cover issues ranging from border security to protection of migrants, mobility among the parties and increased cooperation with countries of origin in Africa. The Commission’s delegation also intends to get a better understanding of the challenges faced by Libya in the fight against trafficking of human beings, and in the fight against illicit trafficking and terrorism at its southern borders.

In November 2008 the Commission and Libya launched negotiations for an EU-Libya Framework Agreement providing for political dialogue and cooperation on foreign policy and security issues; for a free trade area as deep and comprehensive as possible; and for cooperation in key areas of common concern such as energy, transport, migration, visa, justice and home affairs, environment and other topics like maritime policy and fisheries, education and health.

The Commission said that negotiations are making good progress. The eighth negotiation session took place recently in Brussels while the ninth round is scheduled to take place in mid November in Tripoli.

In the context of the development of relations with Libya, the Commission and Libya have agreed in June 2010 on a Memorandum of Understanding providing for EU technical assistance and cooperation for the period from 2011 to 2013. This programme will focus on three priorities: improving the quality of human capital, in particular supporting health reform; increasing the sustainability of economic and social development, in particular supporting trade reform and the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); and addressing jointly the challenge of managing migration.

To support the expanding list of bilateral activities, the Commission has also decided to open an Office in Tripoli. This Office, which should become operational in early 2011, should remain under the authority of the EU Delegation in Tunis.