Italian PM signals new approach to migration with North African partners

Italy’s Prime Minister presented an expanded version of the Mattei Plan to Parliament on Monday, deepening cooperation with North African partner countries on migration management, energy and economic development.

The new framework allocates an additional €5.5 billion over five years and is structured around what Rome calls “equal partnerships” — explicitly rejecting what officials described as the post-colonial paradigm of traditional development aid.

Critics in the European Parliament have raised concerns about human rights conditionality, particularly with regard to one of the partner countries. Commission officials confirmed that the plan has been notified to Brussels and is being assessed against EU external action guidelines.

The plan is expected to feature prominently at the next EU-AU summit.