Minister Intotero meets Romanian associations in Italy, discusses labour and integration related issues

Minister for Romanians Abroad Natalia-Elena Intotero is currently paying a visit to Italy, where she had a series of meetings with representatives of the Romanian associations in the Puglia, Basilicata, Molise and Calabria regions.

Discussions took place on Thursday, May 3, and referred mainly to "issues related to labour and integration into the Italian society, and also to the existing opportunities in Romania for those who want to return home."

"Minister Intotero mentioned the simplification of the funding procedure through which the Romanian citizens can benefit from funds for launching projects meant to help them keep and promote their Romanian identity. Moreover, the Romanian official reiterated the steps made by the Ministry for Romanians Abroad and the Ministry of Education in improving the education plan and the school curriculum for children of Romanians living abroad," reads a release.

Another topic on the agenda of the meeting was the national campaign "Information home! Safety in the world!," organized by the MRP.

"The Minister encouraged the participants in the discussions to get involved in such initiatives related to information, which, in the long run, could contribute to the drop of abuses of any kind. In this context, the dignitary underscored the efforts made by the Bucharest authorities, in partnership with the Italian ones, to open the Inter-disciplinary Center of Assistance for People Vulnerable to Trafficking and Exploitation at Work from Vittoria-Ragusa," specifies the same source.

During the meeting, Intotero reiterated that the Bucharest authorities want Romanians in Italy to be safe.

"Here is an accomplished dream and Romania finally has a consular office in Bari. This shows how important the largest communities in the diaspora is for us. Moreover, the inauguration of a Info Booth in Bari responds to the need of keeping Romanians who live there informed. We want that Romanians in Italy to be safe, to know their rights, to be protected and, more than that, we want to encourage them to come home," underscored Natalia Intotero, quoted in the same release.

MRP specified that attending the meeting were also such beneficiaries of non-reimbursable funds offered by the Ministry, representatives of the diplomatic mission Bari, Romanian priests from the area covered by the general consular office and the labour attache working with the Romanian Embassy from Rome.

According to the same release, the Romanian Minister's visit continues with meetings with the representatives of the trade unions and local authorities. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Claudia Stanescu; EN - author: Cristina Zaharia, editor: Adina Panaitescu)