Progressive Migration Group – Rome

Italian version below

A rules & values approach to migration 

The Progressive Migration Group (PMG) is a network of African and European migration experts established by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. This year, Fondazione Socialismo Ets is also a pivotal partner in organising the PMG consultation in Rome and Brussels (December).

The PMG examines the relations and cooperation between the European Union and African countries or regions, aiming to put into question the prevailing emotionally charged narratives surrounding migration. Its primary focus is to develop practical recommendations and policy proposals for progressive forces at the EU, African and national levels, addressing both migration and other policy areas that impact migration.

This year, the European Union and the African Union celebrate the 25th anniversary of their relationship. Ahead of the 7th EU-AU Summit on 24-25 November 2025, this PMG consultation was held on 26 September in Rome. We explored the following topics:

• From control to cooperation: externalisation and returns in EU-Africa relations
  • The European Union’s overemphasis on irregular migration and the consequent increased trend to resort to securitisation, border militarisation and externalisation policies needs to be addressed. Additionally, we discussed return cooperation with the countries of origin and transit
• Beyond irregularity: shifting the migration focus from crisis to opportunities to legal pathways
  • We dove into the potential for truly equal and fair Africa-EU labour agreements that move beyond conditionality or the so-called “Immigration Flow Decree”. The aim was to create a win-win situation for all parties involved. A pathway that safeguards migrants’ security, dignity and human rights, while catering to AU’s and EU’s interests.

Among our speakers

• Giuliano Amato, Former Italian Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
• Cecilia Strada, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group (online)
• Toni Ricciardi, Vice President, PD Group, Chamber of Deputies
• Antonio Vitorino, Former Director General of the International Organization for Migration, and Chair of the Progressive Migration Group
• Tobias Mörschel, Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung European Union & Global Dialogue Brussels Office
• Gennaro Acquaviva, President, Fondazione Socialismo
• Hedwig Giusto, Head of the International Programmes, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
• Tasnim Abderrahim, Visiting Fellow with ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa Programme
• Jean-Louis de Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute
• Ouidad Bakkali, Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
• Luca Di Sciullo, Presidente, IDOS
• Paddy Siyanga Knudsen, African Non-state Actors Platform, Co-organiser (tbc)
• Lukmon Akintola, Global Center for Climate Mobility
• Luca Cefisi, Fondazione Socialismo

The conference aimed to foster equitable dialogue, inform European and African decision-makers and forge a more balanced, sustainable and mutually beneficial migration partnership. We need migration policies that respect human rights, support regional integration, and reflect the aspirations of people across the Mediterranean. 

On the occasion of this event, we launched our new policy briefs on EU-African migration governance, in the presence of one of its authors, Lukmon Akintola.

English and Italian translations were available.

IMPORTANT

• All participants need to bring their ID, with which they registered to enter
• Men must wear a suit jacket in the Parliament (it does not have to be a full suit, but the jacket is compulsory). A tie is not needed.

For more information regarding the project and this event, please do not hesitate to contact Hedwig Giusto, Senior Research Fellow and Editor in Chief of the Progressive Post, FEPS (hedwig.giusto@feps-europe.eu) or Julia Wild, Project Officer, FEPS (julia.wild@feps-europe.eu). 

Regoli e valori per il governo dell’immigrazione:
dall’ossessione securitaria ai percorsi legali

Agenda disponibile qui.

Il Progressive Migration Group (PMG) è una rete di esperti africani ed europei in materia di migrazione, istituita dalla Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) in collaborazione con la Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. La Fondazione Socialismo ETS sostiene le sessioni di Roma e Bruxelles del 2025.

Il principale obiettivo del PMG è analizzare le relazioni e la cooperazione tra l’Unione Europea e i paesi africani di origine e di transito delle migrazioni, per mettere nella giusta luce la narrazione prevalente sulle migrazioni, oggi prevalentemente emotiva e ideologica, al fine di formulare raccomandazioni pratiche e proposte politiche per le forze progressiste a livello europeo, africano e nazionale, affrontando tanto le questioni migratorie quanto le cause politiche, economiche e sociali che le determinano.

Nell’anno in cui l’Unione Europea (UE) e l’Unione Africana (UA) celebrano il 25° anniversario delle loro relazioni e in vista del 7° Vertice UE-UA del 24-25 novembre 2025, questa sessione del PMG a Roma intende mettere in discussione l’eccessiva enfasi dell’Unione Europea sull’immigrazione irregolare e l’esternalizzazione dell’accoglienza. Inoltre, discuteremo della cooperazione in materia di rimpatrio, nonché delle possibilità di accordi equi tra Africa e UE che vadano oltre i meccanismi di condizionalità o il Decreto Flussi italiano, in una prospettiva di equità per tutte le parti coinvolte, che garantisca la tutela dei diritti umani, della sicurezza e della dignità dei migranti e il rispetto dei rispettivi interessi dell’Unione Africana e dell’UE.

La conferenza mira a promuovere un dialogo su basi di parità e partenariati migratori mutualmente vantaggiosi che sostengano l’integrazione regionale e riflettano le aspirazioni di tutti coloro che vivono e che si affacciano sul Mediterraneo.

IMPORTANTE

• Tutti i partecipanti devono portare con sé il documento d’identità con cui si sono registrati per poter accedere.
• Gli uomini devono indossare una giacca nel Parlamento (non è necessario indossare un completo, ma la giacca è obbligatoria). La cravatta non è necessaria.

Per ulteriori informazioni sul progetto e sull’evento, non esitate a contattare Hedwig Giusto, Senior Research Fellow and Editor in Chief of the Progressive Post, FEPS (hedwig.giusto@feps-europe.eu) o Julia Wild, Project Officer, FEPS (julia.wild@feps-europe.eu).