Yes to the law to support the people of Lombardy

A new law for Lombards in the world. The Lombardy Region recently approved the draft law 'Norms for the support and enhancement of Lombards in the world and their international mobility'. This project aims not only to support and enhance the value of Lombards abroad, but also to consolidate Lombard culture and identity. A law that has its roots in Lombard legislation: the Statute of Autonomy of Lombardy, in Article 6, 'International and Community Relations', states that 'the Region supports and enhances the communities of Lombards in the world'. And to go even further back, the importance of the role of those who had left the region was recognised by a regional law in 1975.

But where do Lombards go today? Historically, Lombardy's emigration has followed national trends, with a significant increase in the last fifteen years. From 2011 to 2020, there has been a 210% increase in expatriates from Italy, with a particularly marked growth in the Centre-North (+194.5%). In this context, Lombardy is confirmed in first place for departures, with 19% of national departures in 2021 and 18.8% in 2022. In absolute terms, Lombardy is second only to Sicily in terms of the number of expatriates registered with Aire (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero), with 610,952 units in 2022.

Modern emigration is characterised by more fluid and changing migration projects than in the past. Lombard migrants include an increasing number of young and highly educated people. In 2020, one in four Italians emigrating will have at least a university degree. This trend has intensified in recent years, with a 17% increase in expatriate graduates compared to five years earlier. Another emerging trend is the increase of highly educated young women choosing to move abroad.

Young people between the ages of 25 and 34 account for a significant proportion of expatriates. In 2020, some 40,000 young Italians in this age group left the country, two out of five of them with at least a university degree. Despite the pandemic, the proportion of graduates among expatriates remained high at 45.7% in 2021.

Alongside migration flows to foreign countries, there are also significant return flows. In 2022, Lombardy recorded the highest number of returns, with 14,000 registrations with AIRE, equal to 19% of the national total. This phenomenon reflects the dynamic and circular nature of new mobility, attracted by the socio-economic opportunities offered by Lombardy.