The outcome of the Italian-African Conference was not a pretext but rather a concrete plan to change the fate of European-African relations. ECFR’s Rome office director delves into the ‘realistic vision’ guiding Italy’s major foreign policy initiatives
Words matter. If it is true, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in her opening speech on Monday, that “Africa is a continent that can and must always surprise”; Italy-Africa ConferenceIt is equally true that, as African Union President Moussa Faki later put it, “there is an urgent need to move from words to action.” This requires mutual trust, which is the ultimate objective of this event as Italy hosts its first international meeting of the year as G7 President.
- Africa “plies a lot of hopes” in Italy’s hands at the helm of the G-7, added Comorian Azali Assomani, the AU’s rotating president. It highlighted Rome’s new commitment to Africa, he said. Plan, its major foreign policy initiative.
The path to trust. In a time of complex geopolitical interactions and heightened anxiety, three key presidents: Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, Charles Michel of the Council and Roberta Mezzola of the Parliament. The entire European Union was paying close attention to Italy’s maneuvers, as the existence of the While expressing his satisfaction at this level of attention, President Faki also sought to emphasize the need for mutual respect as a building block of trust.
- This includes understanding that African countries strive to remain multipolar, free to choose their partners, and refrain from aligning themselves with a single geopolitical bloc. This makes sense to African viewers, while EU viewers struggle with this concept.
- “Just as we don’t want to impose, we also don’t want to be forced to choose,” he said.
Redefining the balance between the EU and Africa. Part of the message seems to be getting through to Western audiences. Michel asserted that respect and trust will be the driving force for cooperation, adding that Italy’s Mattei plan is part of the “philosophy of relations that we want to weave with Africa, which is not just big speeches but concrete projects.” He emphasized that it is based on Next, he identified his three main areas of activity. actually laid out In the Italian project:
- safety and peace.
- Ms von der Leyen identified ‘energy and training’ as the central driving force for thriving.
- Combating illegal immigration through new approaches to legal entry routes.
Expert opinion. The “scaffolding” of the Mattei plan is “valid” both in content and narrative, said Arturo Varvelli, head of the Rome office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. To sister site. “That’s especially to avoid emphasizing its exceptionality.” [Italy’s] Offer” is based on the recognition that we are one of many companies in such a competitive world. Importantly, he stressed, this proper setting of expectations allows the Rome project to be “expressed as achievable.”
- “We are not looking to change the fate of Europe-Africa relations, but we are proposing something concrete. The Italian government is working with businesses to obtain a realistic vision. I understand this.”
- It also responds to a range of African concerns. Resources are limited (initially) to just over $5 billion, which we will allocate to: Targeted projects It helps in the feasibility of the plan. “It is not yet understood whether individual projects are part of our country’s broader strategy,” the expert stressed.
Do you mean global gateway? Varvelli says the overall perception of the Mattei plan is positive, even if its scope is limited compared to the EU’s international aid programme, which has a budget of €150 billion allocated to the continent. Will Italy’s efforts be included there? Experts believe that “coordination mechanisms will be found” as the Mattei plan would best “act as a consolidator or driver of a global gateway”.