ROME (ITALPRESS) – The new way of conceiving relations with the African continent, with Italy playing an increasingly central role, is the theme at the center of the conference ‘Africa Womb of the World: Italy Leading Relations with the EU,’ organized by Forza Italia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation departments and the Italian EPP delegation to the European Parliament, which is being held at the Sala delle Bandiere of the European Parliament in Italy, with the participation of, among others, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “We need a vision and action to be taken on the African continent. We need to make it clear to our fellow citizens as well how important it is for Italy to play a bridging role between Africa and the EU. Africa is a priority issue and we must not abandon that continent,” Minister Tajani said. “Even in Africa there is a problem of internal migration, because there are some African countries that do not want to lose their brains running away to Europe, it is a problem not only of public order but also political. That also requires a vision and a strategy, and this government has it. On the Mattei Plan we are moving forward, we are working, part of our action of presence in Africa is to foster the growth of the African continent. I will be in Egypt in the middle of the month, on the 17th, we are planning a series of visits to Africa. We also talked about it today in the Vatican for a big event on children,” he concluded. “What should we do with the Mattei Plan? First, defend the holding of states. You have to give something back if you want common management of migration. The European mistake and the Italian mistake has often been to not want to give anything in return except money. That is not what they are looking for. Then comes the industrialization of Africa, to process raw materials locally. So we need to create the medium infrastructures, beyond the big corridors,” explained Mario Giro, Head of International Relations for the Community of Sant’Egidio, former Vice-Minister at MAECI. For Emanuela Del Re, former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, “it is a very positive sign that a member country of the European Union is taking the lead in a project like the Mattei Plan, at a historical moment when we need courage and leadership. Italy, in the European context, is taking the attitude that I think is most appropriate at this time. The European Union,” he continued, “must move on values, but also reason on interests. This is a balance that I have to say Italy is putting in place right now. “The African continent and the European continent share a long history of cultural and commercial interaction,” said Senator Tony Iwobi, “but today, more than ever, there is a need to develop innovative strategies that enhance sustainability, inclusion, and cooperation. Cultural tourism can build bridges between our communities, enhancing artistic, historical and gastronomic heritage.We need to facilitate connection and accessibility, invest in infrastructure and transport between Africa and Italy, and promote cooperation agreements, which are essential to increase bilateral tourism flows. “Africa accounts for 3 percent of world trade, while the European Union accounts for 15.3 percent. The European Union accounts for 17% of world GDP, while Africa, with 18% of the world’s population, accounts for 5.3%. Despite these dysfunctions, Africa and the European Union face common challenges that require a concerted and coordinated response, first and foremost the management of migration flows,” said Youssef Balla, Morocco’s ambassador to Italy. “The European Union, through Italy, is essential to meet the challenges of building a more prosperous future. It depends on our ability to establish truly balanced partnerships and on understanding common challenges. Africa can and must be a strategic ally and a key player in building a more just and sustainable world,” he concluded. “The importance of infrastructure in Africa is critical. Because of their lack, the import-export ratio among African countries is only 4 percent, when in other continents it is usually around 40 percent. If infrastructure is not invested in, nothing will work on the continent. The Mattei plan is very ambitious and we appreciate it. For Africa’s development, we need to create a platform that will transmit Italian technology and knowledge to African countries. Italy is the country that can do that. In Italy there are leaders like Tajani, Meloni and Salvini who can do it. There is the will, the history and the possibilities for Italy to invest in Africa’s development,” stressed Egypt’s ambassador to Italy, Bassam Radi. “Africa has a growing weight in global processes. Talking about Africa today means talking about the Mattei Plan, an evolving platform for an investment plan that also attracts financial resources from multilateral development banks and other major partners, supported by a commonality of values and sharing with African countries. I believe that through a vision, through good alliances, through resources and a strategic capacity for intervention, the destinies between Italy and Africa and between Europe and Africa can only become more intertwined, with common benefits,” concluded Nicoletta Bombardiere, MAECI’s Director General for Globalization.
– IPA Agency Photos –
(ITALPRESS).
