GS Paper II

News excerpt:

The Union Cabinet has given the approval to the proposal of the Ministry of External Affairs to sign and ratify the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy.

Key provision of the agreement:

• Indian students wishing to gather initial professional experience, after completing academic/vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months.
•  The Italian side has detailed provisions related to Professional Training, Extracurricular Internships and Curricular Internships which allow Indian students/trainees to gain experience in Italian skill/training standards.
•  For workers, the Italian side has reserved a quota of 5000, 6000 and 7000 non seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under the current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 12000 for non-seasonal workers).
•  Additionally, the Italian side has reserved a quota of 3000, 4000 and 5000 seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 8000 for seasonal workers).

Benefits of the agreement

•  The Agreement would enhance people-to-people contacts, foster mobility of students, skilled workers, business people and young professionals and strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration between the two sides.
• The Agreement locks-in the current Italian visa regime including mechanisms for post study opportunities, internships, professional trainings assuring an advantage for India under the existing labour mobility pathways under the Flows Decree.
• The Agreement provides a formal mechanism for its monitoring through a Joint Working Group (JWG) which would meet periodically, in virtual or physical mode as    convenient, and oversee its implementation. 
• The agreement is also expected to formalize a pact between the two nations for the employment of professionals in the healthcare and medical services sectors.

Strained relationship in recent past

•  Several problems burdened the India-Italy relationship in the recent past, from the 2012 Enrica Lexie case to the AgustaWestland chopper deal controversy.
• Enrica Lexie Case:  In the former incident, Indian authorities arrested two Italian marines who were aboard the Italian-flagged commercial oil tanker MB Enrica Lexie, accusing them of the killing of two fishermen.
• The case sparked a conflict over legal jurisdiction and functional immunity, which ended only in 2020 with the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
•  AgustaWestland Chopper Deal Controversy: The AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scandal, meanwhile, saw the defense firm – owned by Italian company Leonardo – accused of bribery, resulting in India canceling the procurement deal and banning Leonardo from the Indian defense market in 2015.

India-Italy ties in recent time

• Elevation to Strategic Partnership: Bilateral relations between India and Italy have witnessed an upswing in recent times:. The bilateral relationship between the two countries was elevated to a strategic partnership in March.
•  For example- Rome's naval experience in the Adriatic Sea adding to India's strategic advantage in the Indo-Pacific. 
•    MoUs signed:  These bilateral relations have flourished after the India-Italy summit in 2020 where a total of 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed covering areas like energy, media and finance.
•  Diverse Areas of collaboration: Both nations have also pledged to further strengthen its relationship with India in the spheres of renewable energy, defence, hydrogen, IT, telecom, semiconductors and space.
• Geopolitical considerations: Italy’s interest in India extends beyond geopolitical considerations linked to its mounting interest to be involved in the Indo-Pacific region.
•  Opportunities in domestic manufacturing: India’s focus on domestic manufacturing presents an opportunity for Italian companies to become partners and provide support in parts of the supply chain where India is weak.

Conclusion:

The Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy reflects a positive trajectory in their relationship, fostering educational and professional ties. Despite past strains, the recent elevation to a strategic partnership and diverse collaborations signal a promising future.