External publications

Rebooting Italy's Africa policy: making the Mattei Plan work

Carbone, Giovanni / Lucia Ragazzi / Alain Antil / Benedikt Erforth / Alberto Magnani
External Publications (2024)

ISPI Policy Paper, Milano: Italien Institute for International Political Studies

ISBN: 9788894769982
Volltext/Full text

After decades of relative disengagement, since the 2010s Rome has given Africa more and more room in its foreign policy considerations, with new high-level meetings and proposals. The Mattei Plan, recently launched by the Italian government, fits into this trend and aims at bringing it to the next level, strengthening political investment in the region. Italy has many reasons for looking south, from geographical proximity to the ambition to act as a link between African countries and the rest of the European Union (EU). A revamped interest in building partnerships with Africa is a common trend across the EU and its Member States, that have sought to enhance cooperation with Africa with varying results. While the Mattei Plan is still in its early stages, this paper aims to frame the Plan in the broader context of Italy-Africa relations and of Italian and EU policies towards the continent, with a particular focus on the dynamics of, and the relation with, sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the key components of the Plan and suggests some caveats to be considered in the effort to establish more constructive relationships with African partners, especially by considering the megatrends characterising the region’s development processes, as well as African, European and Italian agendas.