The contribution focuses on aspects that contribute to bring out opportunities and risks of a Mediterranean integration model. Starting from an analysis of the general characteristics of the migratory phenomenon in Italy, we take into consideration the immigrant integration models of major European countries and the United States, to try and understand if and how a Mediterranean model of integration has the potential to overcome some of the evident criticalities of other models. Can the Mediterranean be a place, a space, a physical and symbolic environment in which Europe can re-envision itself as a «middle land»?