The Italian Prime Minister held a summit meeting in Rome and unveiled a plan to develop the Italian continent that would prevent immigration to Europe.
advertisementItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held an Africa summit in Rome on Monday to announce plans to boost the continent’s development, hoping to curb migration flows and forge new ties between Europe and Africa.
In his opening speech, the Italian Prime Minister outlined a series of pilot projects in each country that he said would help Africa become a major energy exporter to Europe and reduce Russia’s energy dependence.
“We want to unlock Africa’s energy and guarantee young generations the rights that have been denied to them,” Meloni said. “Because here in Europe we talk a lot about the rights of migrants, but we rarely talk about guaranteeing the right not to be forced to migrate.”
Meloni said the country’s Africa Development Plan would create jobs on the continent and deter young people from leaving Africa and attempting the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to reach Europe. The plan, named after the founder of state-run gas giant Eni Enrico Mattei, includes pilot projects in areas such as health, water and sanitation, agriculture and infrastructure.
“This is a collaboration of equals, far removed from any predatory temptations, but also far removed from a benevolent attitude toward an Africa that can hardly be reconciled with its extraordinary development potential,” Meloni said. told the leaders.
However, the Italian plan appears to have failed to arouse enthusiasm among African leaders. Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission, said African countries wished Italy had been consulted before starting the plan.
“We need to move from words to action,” Chad’s former prime minister Fakih told the summit. “You can’t be satisfied with promises that are never kept.”
The event in Rome, the first major event of Italy’s G7 presidency, will be attended by 20 African leaders, top officials from the European Union and the United Nations, and representatives from international lending institutions.