A solution for Calais: a student of the University of Bologna was awarded at the Planet Needs YOUth 2024

Giacomo Biondi, a student of the International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs Degree Programme at the University of Bologna (Department of Political and Social Sciences, Forlì Campus), has secured the second place among eighty participants in the Planet Needs YOUth 2024 initiative. This initiative was created to encourage Italian and European students to propose innovative solutions to address the global challenges of our time.

Thanks to his project for reforming the current system in Calais, the French city emblematic of contemporary migrations, the student of Alma Mater has been awarded the title of Next Global Ambassadors 2024, reserved for the top three finalists.

Organised by ISPI School - the first Italian think tank dedicated to the study of international dynamics - in collaboration with Bocconi University and OECD, the initiative, in its fourth edition, involved the presentation of a policy proposal to be adopted for the upcoming European elections.

“Calais, along with Dunkirk, has been since the 1990s the final stop for thousands of migrants attempting to reach the United Kingdom from northern France. However, their living conditions in the reception centers are often inhumane. The upcoming elections should be an opportunity to address the crucial issue of immigration for the future of Europe," emphasizes Giacomo Biondi. "Improving the living conditions of migrants is not only an act of compassion but also an investment in a more inclusive and altruistic society. Sustainable European development should enable everyone to lead a dignified life, regardless of their origins."

The proposal developed by the student of Alma Mater includes a three-pronged intervention plan: raising public awareness during the elections; redirecting European funds currently allocated to militarization towards offering better living conditions and job opportunities to migrants; and a plan to revitalize the city of Calais.

After the success achieved with Planet Needs YOUth, Giacomo Biondi will present his vision for Calais in the "Migrazioni" Panel (co-financed by PRIN 2022 MiReIL, coordinated by Carmelo Danisi - Department of Political and Social Sciences) scheduled within the framework of the event “Costruire la convivenza internazionale: voci e progetti per lo sviluppo sostenibile e i diritti umani” (Building International Coexistence: Voices and Projects for Sustainable Development and Human Rights). The two-day event, which will begin on Friday, 12 April at 2:00 PM and will continue on Saturday, 13 April, at the Campostrino venue in Forlì, coordinated by Angela Romano (Department of Political and Social Sciences), included a roundtable discussion and presentations by 25 speakers. It will be an opportunity for discussion and dialogue with the citizens of Forlì on four crucial international challenges for the future of the new generations: migration, environment, gender equality, peace, and security.