#28 Balkan route migration explained: 30 years of lessons from IOM's Donatella Bradic

#31 Italian immigration policy explained: Elena Bonetti on migrant women, care work, and family

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

#30 Cyprus migrant workers in agriculture: The Pancyprian Farmers Union speaks out – Chr. Papapetrou

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

#29 Italy's migration diplomacy: inside Italian strategy on Tunisia, Libya, and Europe's southern border

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

#28 Balkan route migration explained: 30 years of lessons from IOM's Donatella Bradic

Balkan route migration has shaped European asylum policy for decades. Donatella Bradic draws on thirty years with the International Organization for Migration to explain smuggling networks, EU border control, and the Western Balkans transit corridor. Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-28/. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qn0lnl3jf6o In this interview, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Donatella Bradić, Senior Program Coordinator at IOM, who reflects on three decades managing migration in the Western Balkans. From the Yugoslav wars to digital smuggling networks and EU border reforms, this episode explores the evolution of the route, the role of the IOM, and the future of EU migration governance. Topics include regional diplomacy, unaccompanied minors, biometric registration, externalization of asylum, and the rise of labor migration in the Balkans. 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 02:49 From Conflict to Career - Personal Journey 04:30 Evolving Migration Practices 07:58 Anatomy of the Balkan route 23:15 The Digital Smuggler’s toolkit 28:12 The Role and Evolution of IOM 43:43 Regional Migration Dynamics and Reception Capacities 59:52 EU Accession and Institutional Reform 01:02:57 Conclusion

#27 When 900,000 refugees arrived: Georgios Kaminis on leading Athens through the 2015 crisis

Athens’ migration policy transformed the Greek capital during the refugee crisis. Former Mayor Giorgos Kaminis shares how cities manage migration, integrate refugees, and navigate tensions between local and national governance. Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-27/. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/caImWW1kTiA In this interview, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Georgios Kaminis, Athens' mayor during the peak of the 2015 refugee crisis, as he recounts the pressure on housing, public services, and social cohesion. Kaminis shares how he managed an urban humanitarian emergency, from launching Greece’s first refugee camp to coordinating with over 70 NGOs. This episode offers unique insight into European asylum and migration policy, urban migration governance, and leading a city in a crisis. This interview was arranged by Xenia Saratsioti 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 03:30 The 2015 Crisis Hits Athens 05:58 Emergency Responses and Housing Solutions 19:34 Integration Challenges and Informal Labor 23:12 Refugee Families vs. Individual Migrants 30:07 Security Concerns and Managing Tensions 32:39 Budget, Legacy, and Institutional Innovation 36:31 The Integration Gap and Political Reflections