Meloni's government to issue 500,000 visas for non-EU workers
11:36
From the show
She made curbing migration a keystone of her successful 2022 election campaign. Now, the government of hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has agreed to let almost 500,000 documented immigrants enter Italy over the next three years. Her cabinet has announced that it would be issuing work visas for nearly half a million non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028.
The decision is part of a strategy to tackle illegation immigration and respond to labour shortages in the country. While maintaining a tough rhetoric on migration. France 24 talks to Alberto Rizzi, Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession despite Orbán veto
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. "Nobody can stop Ukraine in this way. It depends on unity. From our side, we'll do anything. We need support from all other leaders," he said, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Danish EU Presidency in Aarhus. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Frederiksen vowed to support Ukraine's accession process to join the European Union. Denmark aims to use its presidency of the EU Council to put "maximum pressure" on Hungary to lift its veto on Ukraine's EU membership negotiations. "Ukraine belongs to the European family and NATO," Frederiksen said, adding that Denmark is thinking about the "best way forward," without sharing additional details. It comes as Russia continues to intensify its attacks on Ukraine, and the United States decided to halt some promised air defence missiles and weapons, which it had already pledged to Ukraine. When asked about the pause in military assistance, Zelenskyy said he will speak with US President Donald Trump soon, but did not go into further detail. The Ukrainian President called on the EU to invest more in Kyiv's defence industry. Frederiksen said she hoped for continued US military support, but vouched to fill any gaps if necessary. Speaking at an earlier press briefing alongside von der Leyen, Frederiksen emphasised a need for a change in mindset. "When we are delivering weapons to Ukraine, instead of thinking it as donations, we have to think of it as a part of rearming ourselves," Frederiksen said. "Because right now it is the army in Ukraine that is protecting Europe," she added. Von der Leyen added that "financial possibilities are in place to directly support Ukraine," urging member states to make use of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a €150 billion budget introduced at the end of May that will help support member states that with to invest in defence. "Member states can take this money and either buy military equipment and give it to Ukraine, or they can take this money and invest it in the extremely efficient Ukrainian defence industry," von der Leyen noted.
France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
Gaza: In the rubble of a cafe bombed by Israel
Majd Abo Alouf, a journalist on the scene during the air strike, filmed the aftermath of the bombing. He told the FRANCE 24 Observers team: I was near the cafe when I witnessed a large explosion that shook the area. Missiles lauched by the [Israeli] occupiers created a massive crater. I went inside, and I saw bodies on the ground in the hall: people without heads, legs or hands. At least 24 people were killed in the Israeli army bombardment, according to Gaza's civil defence agency. Among them was journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, a regular at the cafe. He had been documenting the daily life of Gaza under bombardment since October 7, 2023. His work had recently been exhibited in California, and he had already been wounded by the Israeli army in November 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the journalist's death and called for an independent investigation. Abu Hatab is the 186th journalist killed since the conflict began, according to CPJ. The FRANCE 24 Observers team contacted the Israeli army, who said the incident was 'under review'.
Fashion Network
2 hours ago
- Fashion Network
LVMH and luxury giants undermine EU pushback on US trade threats
For LVMH, the stakes are particularly high. Chairman Bernard Arnault has cautioned that failure to reach a trade deal could have serious consequences for France's wine and spirits industry. Urging restraint, Arnault has advocated for a cooperative path forward and even floated the idea of a US–EU free trade zone. Arnault, who has maintained longstanding ties with Trump, has reportedly visited Washington multiple times since the former president's return to the political spotlight. His son, Alexandre Arnault, also met with officials in May in support of trade de-escalation. 'I hope to succeed, with my modest means and my contacts, in convincing Europe to adopt the most constructive attitude possible,' Arnault told French lawmakers in May. Luxury isn't the only sector weighing in. German automakers—including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen—have also proposed their own solutions directly to US officials. Mercedes, for instance, has shifted production of its GLC SUV to Alabama, while other firms have announced expanded US investments as diplomatic signals. These moves, though strategic, have raised concerns in Brussels. EU officials fear that an over-accommodating response could encourage companies to increasingly shift production and investment across the Atlantic, weakening Europe's industrial core. Industry leaders contend that reciprocal tariffs would do more harm than good. While retaliation may appear symbolic, it risks reducing EU access to essential US-made technologies, components, and research ecosystems—particularly in high-growth areas such as fashion innovation, AI, and biotechnology. Meanwhile, industry groups representing French Cognac and Irish whiskey producers have intensified lobbying efforts, warning that retaliatory tariffs would unjustly penalize products unrelated to the core trade dispute. These sectors rely heavily on the US and Chinese markets for exports and have become particularly vulnerable to policy crossfire. The European Commission has outlined proposed tariffs on $112 billion worth of US goods. However, pressure from member states and industry groups may lead to as much as €70 billion worth of items being removed from the final list—significantly diluting the EU's leverage. As a potential compromise, the EU is reportedly open to a universal 10% tariff on many of its exports, while seeking lower rates for key sectors, such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and luxury goods. With stakes rising, the next few weeks will be critical. For LVMH and other fashion leaders, the hope is that quiet diplomacy will succeed where confrontation may fail—and that maintaining access to the US market remains central to the EU's trade strategy.
