A plan for Africa

I have read the text of the Mattei plan published in the Official Journal on 15 November 2023. The structure of mission envisaged by the plan.

What does the Mattei Plan provide for now? Article 1 specifies that: «Italy's collaboration with states on the African continent is implemented in accordance with a strategic programmatic document called Strategic Plan Italy Africa: Mattei Plan". The Plan, again in article 1, identifies: «Areas of intervention and action priorities with particular reference to the following sectors: development cooperation, promotion of exports and investments, education, higher education and professional training, research and innovation, health, agriculture and food safety, supply and sustainable exploitation of natural resources, including water and energy, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change, modernization and strengthening of infrastructures, including digital ones , valorisation and development of the energy partnership also in the field of renewable sources, support for entrepreneurship and in particular for young people and women, promotion of employment, cultural tourism, prevention and fight against irregular immigration and management of legal migratory flows" . Article 2 specifies that the control room will be chaired by the President of the Council of Ministers and composed of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with the functions of vice-president and 11 other institutional representatives.

What to say? I confess that I am highly undecided about the proposal because it does not yet have general outlines. Meanwhile, it is not clear why the initiative was not shared not only with the Chambers, but also with entities recognized by the international cooperation law. Certainly the proposal has the merit of wanting to operate across the board, systematising and sharing the potential of all our ministries. It certainly has the courage to innovate in Europe and the ambition to be a driving force. It is prudent to define in art. 1 which could also start with just a few African states. It does not present financial commitments because probably the first objective is to enhance the existing heritage.

Of course for those like me who experienced the enlightened Lomé Convention that is, the cooperation between the states of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with Europe and Italy's failed operation against world hunger desired by Senator Pannella, prudence is a must. There is an absolute need for bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation, but for now there are still no elements to make an assessment regarding the methods and times with which it will be developed.


Gianfranco Cattai
NP December 2023