Italian immigration policy shapes the lives of migrant women working in care and domestic sectors. In this episode, Elena Bonetti, former Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family, discusses family reunification, regularisation of migrants, and the challenges facing immigrant families in Italy.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-31/.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/roPKergPRJQ

Elena Bonetti breaks down immigration policy in Italy—where migrant women fill vital domestic and eldercare roles but remain trapped in irregular work and legal limbo. Drawing on her experience under the Conte II and Draghi governments, Bonetti, who is currently a leading figure in the Renew Europe group in Parliament, reveals why Italy’s Decreto Flussi is failing, how the Bossi-Fini Law still shapes migrant precarity, and what it would take to shift toward a more effective immigration policy. We discuss care work, demographic trends, the informal economy, and regularization programs.

This interview was arranged by Lisa Sottanelli and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

00:00 Introduction
04:25 Early Encounters with Immigration
08:18 Labour vs. Family Migration Policy
23:28 The Situation of Immigrant Families
32:17 Social Benefits and Integration Efforts
36:42 Migrant Women and Irregular Domestic Work
43:12 Why Regularization Fails
52:35 Conclusion

Cyprus migrant workers in agriculture sustain the island's farming sector amid chronic labour shortages. Christos Papapetrou, leader of the Pancyprian Farmers Union, shares insights on informal labour, work permits, and the future of rural Cyprus.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-30/.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nr56bhbKWIU

In this conversation, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Christos Papapetrou about how irregular migration, EU border controls, and local labor shortages intersect in the fields and villages of the island. From smuggling routes across the buffer zone to migrants attracted by welfare benefits, the episode exposes how Cyprus’ agriculture increasingly depends on migrant labor. A vital listen on how immigration is reshaping the rural Mediterranean.

This interview was arranged and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

00:00 Introduction
02:28 Evolution of Migrant Labour in Cyprus
07:06 The Role of Informal Networks
10:52 Why Farmers Hire Irregular Migrants
18:12 National Origins and Breakdown of Recruitment
23:16 Bureaucracy vs Legislative Blockages
28:22 Irregular Migrants in Rural Communities
34:34 Routes, Entry points & Processing Sectors
36:23 Looking Ahead - The Future of Agriculture and Migration

Italy's migration diplomacy plays a crucial role in managing Mediterranean migration flows. Maurizio Canfora provides an inside look at Italian foreign policy, cooperation with Tunisia and Libya, and EU border management strategies.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-29/.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i-gC1VmEHnk

In this interview, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Maurizio Canfora, Italy’s Vice Minister Plenipotentiary and Director General for European Integration. Canfora offers an insider’s look at how Italy influences the EU Migration Pact, manages partnerships with Tunisia and Libya, and navigates border diplomacy amid rising geopolitical tension. Listeners will gain insight into Italy’s complex balancing act: safeguarding the Schengen zone, supplying its labor market, and curbing irregular migration through strategic cooperation. We explore Italy’s evolving stance on Frontex, the legal limits of maritime border control, and the country’s high-stakes engagement with France, Germany, and the European Commission. For anyone following Mediterranean migration, EU external relations, or the future of free movement in Europe, this episode is essential listening.

This interview was arranged by Lisa Sottanelli and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

00:00 Introduction
02:39 A Diplomat’s Journey into Migration
08:36 Labor Markets & Legal Pathways
14:08 Border Management & Frontex
21:20 Strategic Partnerships with North African Countries
32:45 EU Responsibility & the Schengen Framework
40:55 Libya & Tunisia – Diplomacy in Practice
45:00 Internal EU Consensus & Migration Policy
53:42 Social Attitudes & Migration Perceptions
1:00:31 Future Priorities & Budget Negotiations