Ventotene and the evolving pattern of migration

Migration is one of the most divisive themes in Europe and in the European Union. However, human mobility, which has always existed and will always take place, was undeniably one of the cornerstones in the Union’s beginnings. With the Schengen agreement and the Erasmus mobility program an intra-European space has been provided where European citizens can move freely in search of jobs and educational qualifications. The asylum pressure has revealed different approaches among the European countries, but the European Commission has acted to support each country in coping with the pressure and is supporting a revision of the Dublin convention. Many more initiatives are needed but the European countries in the ‘migration’ field are moving along the spirit of the Ventotene Manifesto, toward a more coherent but differentiated approach to human mobility. The European Commission is also supporting migrant integration which is a priority not only for migrants themselves but mainly for natives because together they will be the future European citizen.