Italy can lead the say in countering extremist radicalism and promoting collaboration and growth between the European Union and African nations, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Rome over the weekend.
During the two-day (Med)iterranean Dialogues in Rome, Meloni presented her plan dubbed the ‘Mattei plan’ for Africa – named after late Eni founder Enrico Mattei who negotiated fairer and more cooperative partnerships with oil hosting countries that were seen as a direct challenge to arrangements usually negotiated by major oil companies.
Italy will adopt a “non-predatory but collaborative posture” with regard to the African market that mimics Mattei’s approach, Meloni said at the conference.
Before becoming prime minister, Meloni had fiercely attacked France for its predatory policies in Africa:
“Vile are those like France who continue to exploit Africa by printing money for 14 African nations on which they apply seigniorage, making children work in the mines, extracting raw materials as in Niger. Africa is running away from you (…) and the solution is to free Africa from certain Europeans,” she said at the time.
The Mediterranean divides but also unites the EU and Africa, she said at the conference, adding that stability and security in this area is “the precondition for the economic and social development” of European and African nations.
The Italian government’s “most urgent” foreign policy and national and security priorities include “the full and lasting stabilisation of Libya” and taking a leading position in countering the spread of “extremist radicalism” in the sub-Saharan area.
“Italy is and can be much more a natural hinge and energy bridge between the Mediterranean and Europe”, Meloni concluded.
Faced with a migration crisis and increasing pressure to accommodate migrants, mostly coming from North Africa, it is likely Meloni is also keen to stem much of the flow at the source.
(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)
Source: euractiv.com
