Employment and integration of third-country nationals in Italy and Malta

Abstract

The topic of integration of third-country nationals in the European Union (EU) requires much more prominence and attention especially due to the influx of migration happening in recent years. The EU Treaties enshrine that the most fundamental values are to be adhered to by all Member States and so Member States and the EU need to propose concrete solutions on how to integrate third-country nationals in society and thus create a sense of belonging for migrants entering the EU. Hence, this dissertation focuses on the integration of third-country nationals in both Italy and Malta by means of employment. The dissertation provides a comprehensive background to the terms “third-country nationals” and “integration”, provides a closer look to the EU policies with regards to the topic in question and analyses how Italy and Malta tackle the concept of integration in their countries. A case study of Italy and Malta was chosen since both countries have been very active in the EU on migration and integration of third-country nationals. The discussion and data collected shows that employment of third-country nationals is crucial in the integration process of an individual and also notes that Italy and Malta need to implement innovative strategies to integrate migrants in society. Furthermore, the EU can be more involved in setting specific targets for Member States to ensure integration across the board.