Publications

The Mattei Plan offers an opportunity to redefine a new partnership with Angola. However, a partnership based on the exploitation of fossil fuels is not only not economically viable in view of a declining Italian and European demand for oil and gas according to all scenarios, but it is also on a collision course with market trends.
An Italy-Congo partnership based on the exploitation of fossil fuels is not the best investment for the country’s economy, as it fuels a vicious cycle of debt, poverty, inequality and corruption and lack of diversification. For Italy, such partnership is not only unprofitable in the face of a declining gas demand under all scenarios, but it would also collide with market new interests. Insisting on gas in the Italy-Congo relationship increasingly ties Italy’s foreign policy to gas policy, and away from its climate commitments.
The revival of relations between Italy and African countries needs to be contextualized within a framework of renewed interest in the African continent. In this framework, the Meloni government is working on a new strategic project for Africa, known as “Mattei Plan”, which aims at establishing equal and mutually beneficial relations with African partners, in a “non-predatory” context. Against this backdrop, Mozambique represents an extremely relevant partner for Rome, drawing on solid relations at both a governmental and civil society level.

Policy Briefing

Giulia Signorelli

Foreign Policy

The Mattei Plan offers an opportunity to redefine a new partnership with Angola. However, a partnership based on the exploitation of fossil fuels is not only not economically viable in view of a declining Italian and European demand for oil and gas according to all scenarios, but it is also on a collision course with market trends.
An Italy-Congo partnership based on the exploitation of fossil fuels is not the best investment for the country’s economy, as it fuels a vicious cycle of debt, poverty, inequality and corruption and lack of diversification. For Italy, such partnership is not only unprofitable in the face of a declining gas demand under all scenarios, but it would also collide with market new interests. Insisting on gas in the Italy-Congo relationship increasingly ties Italy’s foreign policy to gas policy, and away from its climate commitments.
The revival of relations between Italy and African countries needs to be contextualized within a framework of renewed interest in the African continent. In this framework, the Meloni government is working on a new strategic project for Africa, known as “Mattei Plan”, which aims at establishing equal and mutually beneficial relations with African partners, in a “non-predatory” context. Against this backdrop, Mozambique represents an extremely relevant partner for Rome, drawing on solid relations at both a governmental and civil society level.