On Thursday, in the presence of Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval, Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa signed an agreement with the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Research in Bari (CIHEAM) to launch the €9 million Pro.UKR project.
The Italian embassy toldInterfax-Ukraine that the agreement aims to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in the agricultural areas of Odesa region.
The project, which will strengthen the production, technical and organizational capacities of local agricultural producers, livestock enterprises and cooperatives, will be fully implemented in Odesa, a city over which Italy has taken patronage for recovery, demonstrating Italy’s commitment to one of the regions most affected by the war. The program, developed jointly with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and technical experts from Odesa Oblast, will include the provision of tools for production in the fields of agriculture and livestock, the introduction of new technologies and sustainable irrigation systems.
“The agri-food sector is one of the key components for Ukraine’s economic recovery, particularly in the agricultural areas where small businesses have been particularly hard hit by the conflict. Italy reaffirms its support through a concrete project aimed at strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development,” said Ambassador Formosa.
The Pro.UKR program is part of a broader effort by Italy to support the recovery of Ukraine and the Odesa region, with the aim of contributing to the country’s economic and social resilience in the current difficult environment.
The Italian Agency for Cooperation Development (AICS) has announced a grant competition for land clearance from mines and other remnants of war in the frontline regions with a total budget of EUR 6 million, with the amount of one project not exceeding EUR 1.8 million.
As reported on the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine on Thursday, the projects should be aimed at non-technical and/or technical survey of the territories, and include an element of informing the population about mine threats. Kharkiv region, where 55 out of 56 communities have been affected by the war, has been chosen as a priority for the implementation of projects within the competition.
“This is the first time that one of the partner countries has allocated money directly for the clearance of our land, involving Ukrainian mine action operators in this process. I believe that such cooperation will allow us to quickly return to use and identify contaminated areas and strengthen cooperation not only at the level of institutions, but also between organizations and companies of our countries that strive to make Ukrainian land safer,” said Yulia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
Only non-profit organizations can apply for the competition, but they can also engage commercial mine action operators as partners in project implementation.
Applications will be accepted until May 11 this year. The total planned duration of the projects is up to 15 months.
Italy and Spain have made it clear that they are not ready to support the European Union’s proposal to allocate around EUR 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year, with each country contributing according to the size of its economy, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Following a meeting on Monday of foreign ministers from the 27 EU member states in Brussels, Kallas said her proposal had “broad political support” and discussions were now moving to the details.
Diplomats said the proposal has some support from northern and eastern European countries. But some southern European capitals were more reticent, reflecting a division between those geographically closer to Russia, which have given more aid to Ukraine, and those farther away, which have given less, as a percentage of their economies.
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy think tank, Estonia, Denmark and Lithuania lead Europe in this area, allocating more than 2 percent of their GDP to aid Kiev between January 2022 and December 2024. At the same time, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus are among those who have allocated the least, committing less than 0.5% of their GDP.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, ministers from Italy and Spain – the EU’s third and fourth largest economies – said it was too early to take a final position on the proposal.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the proposal would need to be discussed in detail in light of upcoming events. “We are waiting for a phone call between Trump and Putin to see if there will be any steps forward to achieve a ceasefire,” he said, adding that Italy must also find money to increase its own defense spending. “There are many expenses that need to be addressed,” he added.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said: “We will see how the debate goes, but there is no decision on this issue yet.”
Albares said Spain had already pledged 1 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year. He said Madrid did not have to “wait for the High Representative (Callas – IF-U) to make any proposal” to show that Kiev could count on his support.
Italy will join the processes of Ukraine’s reconstruction, in particular the restoration of the energy sector, says Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
“There can’t be negotiations without Ukraine and without Europe. It is impossible to agree on an agreement without Ukraine and without Europe…. Peace must come together with strong security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said on Monday in Kiev, speaking at a plenary session of the ‘Support Ukraine’ program.
According to Tajani, peace must be stable and lasting for Ukraine, and Italy would be happy to discuss Ukraine’s future. “Rebuilding, rebuilding, trade. We want tourists to visit Ukrainian cities and Ukrainians to visit our universities and our cities. We will participate in the rebuilding process,” he emphasized.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Italy, in particular, will join the restoration of the energy sector.
“We are organizing an international conference on reconstruction. It will be held in Rome on July 10-11 this year. We want to organize what will be a huge success for Ukraine,” Tajani informed.
Relocation has analyzed the latest data on migration in Italy and identified a number of trends and features. As of the beginning of 2025, 5.2 million migrants officially reside in Italy, which is about 9% of the country’s total population of 58.5 million people. In our study, we rely on official data from the country. It should be borne in mind that, according to various estimates, about 4 million more migrants may reside in Italy illegally. Italy remains an important destination for migrants due to its geographical location, economic opportunities, and EU membership.
Migrants play a significant role in the country’s economy, taking jobs in sectors where there is a shortage of local labor.
Detailed analysis of the main groups of migrants
Employment of migrants by sector
Agriculture:
More than 30% of workers are migrants, mostly from North Africa and Eastern Europe.
The seasonal nature of the work makes this sector particularly dependent on migrants.
Construction:
About 20% of workers are migrants, especially from Albania, Ukraine and North Africa.
Services and domestic staff:
Migrants hold up to 60% of jobs, including cleaning, childcare, and elderly care.
Restaurant and hotel business:
A significant part of the staff (up to 40%) is made up of migrants from Asia and Eastern Europe.
Industry and manufacturing:
Asian migrants (especially Chinese) play a key role in the textile industry.
The system of assistance to migrants in Italy
Migrant reception centers:
In the south of the country, especially in Sicily and Lampedusa, there are centers for temporary accommodation of migrants. Social assistance is provided – financial support for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as integration programs: language courses, professional retraining. Children of migrants are entitled to free education in public schools. Free access to primary health care for all migrants, regardless of their status.
Migrants play an important role in the Italian economy, occupying key positions in agriculture, construction and services. However, the successful integration of these groups requires a comprehensive approach that includes social support, educational initiatives and legal protection. Efforts to improve conditions for migrants will help Italy not only maintain stability in the labor market, but also improve the overall economic climate.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analiz-migratsii-v-italii-ot-relocation/
On behalf of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Italy has allocated EUR 13 million to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine.
“At a time when attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are intensifying, this decision is an important step in efforts to restore energy systems damaged by the conflict. Italy’s contribution – one of the largest for a single country – will help stabilize the supply of electricity to millions of war-affected Ukrainians in this difficult time,” the Italian Foreign Ministry said on its website.
It is noted that with this contribution, Italy confirms its continued support for the resilience of Ukraine’s energy sector, in particular in connection with the conference on Ukraine’s recovery to be held in Rome next July.
