Integration: challenges and proposals in the Chamber for a future without radicalism and welfare

On Tuesday 25 February, at the Sala Salvadori of the Chamber of Deputies, a round table entitled “Immigration and Integration: Open Questions”, organized by the Hon. Souad Sbai, head of the Department of Integration and Relations with Foreign Communities of the League, which was also attended by Minister Senator Matteo Salvini. The event, moderated by Alessandro Bertoldi, Executive Director of the Milton Friedman Institute, saw the participation of numerous experts and representatives from the academic, business and security worlds, creating an open debate on the issues of integration and the challenges related to immigration.

Minister Salvini, who expressed his deep appreciation for the initiative promoted by Hon. Sbai. During his speech, Salvini underlined the importance of actively involving foreign communities that are well integrated in Italy, inviting Hon. Sbai to organize a large event to give voice to these realities. “The goal is for them, the many well integrated and hard-working citizens, who are fully part of our community, to give ideas and make proposals for integration,” declared Salvini.

Souad Sbai stressed the need to fight radicalism, indicating it as one of the major obstacles to integration. During the debate, she also asked Salvini for legislative intervention to ban the use of the niqab in schools, explaining: "99% of young Muslim women do not want to wear it, but are forced by their families to do so."

Alessandro Bertoldi raised a key and rarely discussed issue, asking Salvini "how much the welfare economy adopted in Italy and Europe has negatively affected integration, penalizing merit and discouraging personal commitment." Salvini responded by emphasizing that only by abandoning welfare models and favoring those who make an effort is it possible to enhance merit, "promote real integration and boost the national economy, regardless of nationality of origin."

Security experts, psychologists, entrepreneurs and academics, who spoke during the event, highlighted the need for an integrated and new approach to address the challenges of immigration and integration in Italy.

The roundtable featured several speakers, who addressed crucial issues for immigration and integration by sharing their personal experiences. Musacchio spoke about radicalization and security, highlighting the importance of understanding the phenomenon in Italy to prevent its consequences. El Khoury brought an international perspective on the topic of security and integration. Stornelli discussed the challenges related to security in a multicultural context. Russinova offered a cultural reflection on immigration and integration in Italian society through a poem.

A special focus was given to the themes of integration from a psychological point of view and to the female condition. Ulianova and Popolizio analyzed the psychological challenges related to the integration process, underlining the importance of psychological support and coaching for true social inclusion. Nicoletti highlighted the entrepreneurial challenges for foreign women in Italy. Moretti addressed the topic of health and prevention. Sotira offered a legal perspective on the issues related to work and female leadership.

The event offered a space for dialogue and discussion on one of the most debated issues in contemporary society, laying the foundations for an inclusive and constructive integration process.