Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani has defended the “Mattie Plan,” saying it is an “extremely useful tool and means to enhance relations between Italy and Africa.”
Concerns have been raised by observers regarding the suspicious nature of Italy’s Mattie Plan. Some perceive it as an attempt to relocate migrants to Libya, and other African countries. However, all Libyan stakeholders have staunchly rejected this proposal.
Tajani affirmed the need for equal partnerships, according to the Italian news agency, NOVA.
The FM made these remarks on the sidelines of the 44th edition of the Rimini Meeting. He further highlighted that “Italian action alone is not enough; it should be part of a broader European effort. When I was President of the European Parliament, there was always talk of a European Marshall Plan. The Mattie Plan is the Italian part of assistance to Africa.”
Tajani pointed out that Italy’s foreign policy aims to “enhance cooperation in the Mediterranean region, especially with North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Horn of Africa, while also emphasizing engagement with the entire African continent.” He noted that it is a political priority, and that they are moving forward in this direction.
“In Rome, there was also a major meeting with investors from the Arab world and the Gulf, attended by Italy, Ursula von der Leyen, and Charles Michel,” he added.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invested around €2 billion euros in support projects for Africa this year, he revealed.
Earlier, Libya’s former Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Al-Dabbashi, denounced what he called Italy’s attempts at settling migrants in Libya.
He claimed that an Italian NGO is behind the settlement project. He claims that it is an executive arm of the project funded by the Italian Immigration Fund, through the Department of Italians Abroad and Immigration Policies of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He stressed that “this project is an Italian governmental project, and that the organisation has an executive role only. This framework cannot deviate from the responsibility of the Italian government, as well as the responsibility of the Libyan government.
Al-Dabbashi added that the information published on the organisation’s website says that the agricultural project targets the regions of Sebha, Murzuq, and Ghat, and it will be supervised by a re-established centre called the Peace Centre in Sebha.
According to Al-Dabbashi the project has “hidden” its main goal, which is to integrate migrants into Libyan society.