Adnkronos Berlin, November 15 (Adnkronos) – "We have also grown together economically, not least thanks to the 'Agreement on the Recruitment and Placement of Italian Workers in the Federal Republic of Germany,' which our countries concluded 70 years ago, on December 20, 1955. It was a groundbreaking agreement that shaped the lives and family histories of hundreds of thousands of people who came to Germany from Italy to work and live.
Many of them came from southern Italy, which is also your home, Mr. President. With their often demanding work, all these people have made a fundamental contribution to the economic growth of our country, which has long been home to many of them and their families." This was stated by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the ceremony in Berlin, together with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, for the presentation of the "Presidents' Award for Municipal Cooperation between Italy and Germany."
"And today," the German President added, "we also want to remember that it was often these immigrants who promoted cooperation between German and Italian cities! Germany owes gratitude and respect to its Italian immigrants, especially because they often faced prejudice and rejection and had to overcome numerous difficulties in their daily lives. It took a long time for our country to recognize the remarkable achievements of those who came to us back then."
"Precisely for this reason," Steinmeier concluded, "it's important for me to emphasize it once again today: our success story also has a migration background! The immigrants who came to us did our country good. Also because they helped us, as a society, become a little more Italian overall."