(Finance) – It began today in the Chamber Room the general discussion on the decree law on Mattei Plan for Africa. The measure – already approved by the Senate – sees as rapporteur the deputy of Fratelli d’Italia, Giangiacomo Calovini. In the afternoon the first votes on approximately 70 took place in the Chamber amendments introduce yourself. The government will not resort to a vote of confidence. The amendments up to article 4 have been examined and all rejected. Tomorrow the vote on the remaining amendment proposals and on the Agenda will be completed and the vote the final.
The measure must be converted into law by January 14th. The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmund Cirielli, speaking in the Chamber at the end of the debate, explained that the provision “is not an empty box, it will be filled with contents” and an important step will be the Italy-Africa Conference scheduled for the end of the month. The decree, he added, represents “a framework” based on “two directions: creating infrastructure in Africa and enhancing human resources. To do this we claim leadership towards Africa, not political but moral”.
“Offending theEni it seems ridiculous to me”, Cirielli then replied. The reference was to the accusations of “predatory policy” launched during the debate by Avs against Eni. “Eni was not born now and the president Descalzi, which we reconfirmed, has operated and continues to operate well. Eni is one of the few large multinationals operating in Africa and which invests heavily in international cooperation”.
To the Senate had already been expanded areas of intervention and the priority of action of the Plan also with particular reference to the “partnership in aerospace” and the “circular and recycling economy”. It also expands the number of participants in the control room in which, thanks to an amendment by the League, the Deputy Minister of the Environment and Energy Security will also take part, Vannia Gava, delegate for policies and activities relating to sustainable development. There will also be representatives of “industrial companies” and the “Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities”. As for the tasks, the Control room it will also have to promote “meeting activities between representatives of civil society, Italian and African businesses and associations with the aim of facilitating territorial collaboration initiatives and promoting development activities”.