The arrivals in ’91 seemed like an emergency. Today, the figures point to a structural phenomenon and serve as a reminder to Italy – which acted on the basis of fear rather than reality with regard to the Spanish exclave – that it needs migrants

The Chisinau Declaration seeks to redraw the line between the sovereignty of European states and international constraints on immigration. However, a political declaration, such as that by Piantedosi, is not enough to change the rules of the Strasbourg Court.