By Gemima Silva E Silva
In less than a month of the inauguration of the G7 presidency, Italy hosted the Italia – Africa Summit on January 28th and 29th with the slogan: “a bridge for common growth”. The Summit was held at the Palazzo Madama -the Italian Senate – in Rome and represented the government’s ambitions on foreign and national policy. The main goal, according to the Italian President of the Council of Ministers, Georgia Meloni, is to transform Italy into a hub between Africa and Europe and to improve its international profile. But not less important is the migration issue that fills Meloni’s right-wing nationalist agenda. For the Head of the Government, tackling migration is a domestic policy goal and a compromise with its voters. On this matter, it is important to recall that the Central Mediterranean route is one of the main routes of irregular migration to Europe. Consequently, the Mattei Plan implies two main concerns of the European Union: increasing its energy efficiency and controlling migration. Therefore, the success of the Plan would represent a step forward towards a bigger influence of Italy in the EU.
Other than Italians important political figures and delegates from 46 African countries, attended the meeting relevant European Union representatives such as the President of the European Commission – Ursula Von der Leyen – the President of the European Parliament – Roberta Metsola – and the President of the European Council – Charles Michel. Equally noteworthy figures include the President of the African Commission, Moussa Faki, and the African Development Bank Group President, Akinwumi Adesina.
At the same time, it was notable the absence of Africa’s second-largest economy and most populous country, Nigeria, and the low delegation sent by South Africa.
The key point of the summit was to announce the Mattei Plan and the investment of 5.5 billion euros in Africa’s economy. The Plan has five pillars: education and training; agriculture; health; water and energy.
However, it seems that the objective of projects related to improving the situation of basic rights in African countries is a clear intention to reduce the push factors that encourage migrants to leave the continent towards Europe. Indeed, as stated by Giorgia Meloni in her opening address:
“We also want to offer our contribution to improving the management of and access to water, which is an increasingly scarce resource, and this scarcity is one of the main driving factors of food insecurity, conflict, and migration.”
Another fundamental issue to be discussed was energy policy and green transition. Of the 5.5 billion euros destined for the cooperation, 3 billion is from the Italian funds for climate.
The plan shares many similarities with the Global Gateway Investment, which consists of 150 billion euros, provided by the European Union, to invest in the green transition, health, digital integration, and education in Sub-Saharan African countries. The main point of the Investment Package is to improve the connection between Europe and Africa, especially after Chinese and Russian investments and business partnerships in the African continent.
In this case, the Mattei Plan fits perfectly with the ambitions of the Global Gateway, because the first one has the ambition to transform Italy into an “energy hub” between Africa and Europe, so, in a key between the two continents. Hence, according to the 5 pillars of the ‘Mattei Plan’, Italy will invest in improving energy efficiency through the substitution of fossil fuels for renewable energy. As stated by Von der Leyen:
“Africa has the space, the wind, the sun […] What it lacks is infrastructure. But together we can change this.”
The partnership between Europe and Africa is fundamental, especially with North African countries. As seen, in 2021, around 40% of Africa’s energy is exported to Europe. However, there is still no practical information on how the partnership will contribute to the European energy transition and what are the deadlines of the projects.
Hence, it is clear the European’s interest in the success of the Mattei Plan. As endorsed by Von der Leys, the Plan is a solid initiative that adds to the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package. But as much as it benefits other European countries, to fulfill Italy’s aim to be the main connection between European and African relations takes more than a geographical position, like the inclusion of important European Member States on the project, such as Germany and France.
Nonetheless, the European-African partnership must be, as stated by Metsola a “[…] Real partnership of equals. One where we acknowledge the past but look to the future together.”.
In this matter, it is important to recall the Yaoundé Convention, a series of treaties between the European Economic Community and post-colonial Africa in 1963, harshly criticized for its neo-imperialist approach. Therefore, the agreement between Italy and Africa, according to Giorgia Meloni has the intent to abandon the imperialist and colonial traits that characterized past relations between the continents.
“The basis of the Mattei Plan is a new approach: non-predatory, non-paternalistic, but also not charitable.” -Giorgia Meloni
Although the non-paternalistic approach and the partnership between equals was already controversial. The Mattei Plan for Africa, announced at the Summit to African leaders, was not informed to the African Union. Indeed, Faki in his remarks criticized the lack of consultation of its institution, other than reinforcing that the non-patronizing cooperation between equals must be executed consistently.
So, even if Meloni stated that the Plan “was not designed to be a ‘closed box’, to be imposed from above as we have to say, has sometimes been done in the past”, there wasn’t real coordination with African institutions, NGOs or civil society.
However, the impressions weren’t only negative. Kenya’s President and chairperson of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, William Ruto, had a positive impact on Meloni’s pragmatic strategy. In a statement given after the Summit in the Palazzo Madama, in Rome, Ruto stated to Giorgia Meloni:
“I have previously noted that an invitation extended by one country to all 54 African nations did not necessarily serve Africa’s best interests. But those of us present at this conference, representing our colleagues, find it different and inspiring due to the pragmatic approach that you have taken.”
Nonetheless, to not let the pragmatic approach fall into the same old European strategies and impose a plan on African society, both continents must compromise to not convert the Mattei Plan and the Gateway Plan into an “elite” agreement between heads of State and the private sector, particularly in a continent with a big crisis of representation such as Africa.
Consequently, the Mattei Plan’s goal is to create a mid and long-term development cooperation that truly benefits the African population, it is necessary to integrate diverse segments of society. As critiqued on “X” by CNN’s Kenya-based correspondent, Larry Madowo, “Everyone has a plan for Africa except Africa.”. Thus, to not repeat paternalistic policies in Africa, both European and African governments must include African society in their plans and proposals.