Maria Vincenza Desiderio
Maria Vincenza Desiderio is a senior independent expert on migration, integration, development, and qualification recognition policies. She has published widely and regularly advises governments, international organisations, and civil society on these issues. Previously, she was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute Europe, where her work focused on economic migration, immigrant integration, foreign credentials recognition, and the linkages between migration and development.
She has also worked as a Migration Analyst at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and as a Research Officer at the International Organization for Migration, where she coordinated the research activities of the Independent Network of Labour Migration and Labour Market Integration Experts (LINET).
Ms. Desiderio holds a master’s degree with honours in international relations, with specialisation in European economic policy and the role of migration, and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from the University of Rome, La Sapienza. She also earned a certificate in asylum law and international law.
Explore Content by Maria Vincenza Desiderio
Showing 1-10 of 11 total results
Displaced Ukrainians in European Labour Markets: Leveraging innovations for more inclusive integration
Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine displaced millions of Ukrainians into Europe; innovations in credential recognition and flexible training can help them reach their potential.
Why the European Labor Market Integration of Displaced Ukrainians Is Defying Expectations
People displaced from Ukraine are finding work more rapidly in European countries than prior refugee cohorts. But uncertainty over how long they will stay, combined with hurdles such as language barriers, has meant many are prioritizing any job over the right job. This commentary examines how policymakers could address this waste of skills as they seek to fill pressing labor needs and facilitate deeper integration of the new arrivals.
Improving the Labour Market Integration of Migrants and Refugees: Empowering cities through better use of EU instruments
European cities are front-line integration providers, but funding constraints and governance gaps limit their impact. Smarter use of EU instruments could change that.
Reinventing Mutual Recognition Arrangements: Lessons from International Experiences and Insights for the ASEAN Region
Mutual recognition arrangements are declining in number globally and mostly cover academic diplomas. They must be reformed to be relevant for 21st-century labor markets.
Open Windows, Closed Doors: Mutual Recognition Arrangements on Professional Services in the ASEAN Region
ASEAN's seven Mutual Recognition Arrangements diverge significantly in structure, constraining their potential to enable real professional mobility across Member States.
Integrating Refugees into Host Country Labor Markets: Challenges and Policy Options
Refugees have the worst employment outcomes of any immigrant group, a gap that takes over a decade to close without early, coordinated investment in skills and employment.
Blue Card Redux: European Commission plan to recast work permit for highly skilled holds question marks
A 2016 European Commission proposal to recast the EU Blue Card would mandate more uniform entry rules for highly skilled workers but faces likely resistance from Member States.
The Canadian Expression of Interest System: A model to manage skilled migration to the European Union?
Canada's Express Entry system offers the European Union a practical model for improving skilled-talent matching without requiring a full overhaul of Member State competences.
Improving Migrants' Labour Market Integration in Europe from the Outset: A cooperative approach to predeparture measures
Predeparture integration measures have underperformed because origin and destination countries rarely coordinate their design, undermining labor market outcomes.
Policies to Support Immigrant Entrepreneurship
Immigrants start more businesses than native peers but face greater barriers, requiring targeted support and structural reform to unlock their full economic contribution.
