The Italy-Africa summit will be held in Rome this Sunday, marking an important step in relations between Italy and the African continent. African leaders, representatives of the European Union and international organizations will meet to discuss mutually beneficial partnerships and a more balanced approach to relations between Italy and Africa.
The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, stressed the importance of moving away from a “paternalistic” and “predatory” approach towards Africa, and of promoting partnerships based on equality. With this in mind, she wants to make Italy a hub for African energy resources and European markets.
However, the center-left opposition criticizes the lack of clarity in the “Mattei plan” proposed by Meloni. They believe that the project is an “empty box” and ask for more details on its contents and financing. Furthermore, they warn against the risk of using this plan as a means of retaining migrants in Africa, rather than promoting the economic development of African countries and meeting the skilled labor needs of the Italy.
While waiting to discover the details of the plan during the Italy-Africa conference in the Senate, expectations remain mixed. Some experts underline the importance of including the environmental issue in the partnership, by conditioning development aid on the promotion of environmental protection policies. Others emphasize the importance of meeting Africa’s energy needs before considering exporting to Europe.
Overall, the Italy-Africa Summit represents an opportunity for Italy to strengthen its ties with Africa and promote mutually beneficial economic and energy partnerships. However, it remains to be seen whether expectations will be met and whether this partnership can effectively contribute to Africa’s development and Italy’s energy security.