Italy and Spain expand legal migration pathways amid EU policy shifts

Italy and Spain are implementing significant new legal pathways for migration. Italy has established a plan for 500,000 work quotas between 2026 and 2028 to address demographic deficits and labor shortages. For 2026 alone, the country has set 164,850 permits, a substantial increase from 30,850 in 2019. These quotas prioritize seasonal workers in agriculture and tourism, as well as sectors like construction, transport, and healthcare. Access to these quotas is tied to migration cooperation agreements with partner countries, including Tunisia and Morocco.

Simultaneously, the European Parliament has adopted a proposal to establish return hubs for third-country nationals residing irregularly in the EU. These centers, located outside EU territory, would be used to process and potentially detain individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected. While supporters argue these hubs serve as a deterrent to irregular migration, the International Rescue Committee has warned that such policies could create ‘legal no man’s lands’ and jeopardize fundamental rights and international law.