Meeting of DPM Tajani with Commissioner Urpilainen

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, met today in Rome with European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen.

Tajani and Urpilainen expressed their support to the EU Global Gateway, an investment strategy for sustainable infrastructure, that tackles the most pressing global challenges, from climate change to health, energy, education and training systems. They also emphasized the need to increase Team Europe Initiatives to develop infrastructures connecting in particular the EU to Africa. They expressed their intention to build on the Global Gateway approach of positive offer to the partner countries and prioritize projects for local green hydrogen production/transportation and electrical interconnections, as well as boost continental private sector, science, technology and innovation, sustainable growth, environmental and biodiversity preservation, digital transition and natural disaster risk reduction.

In a long-term perspective, they expressed the aim to accelerate the energy transition of our partners, promoting equal partnerships and mutual benefits. They expressed the intention to strengthening cooperation as regards renewables and to building new value and supply chains of critical minerals, which are essential for the transition.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister Tajani announced Italy’s entry into the EU Digital 4 Development Hub to foster inclusion, sustainability and green digital transformation in partner countries. Based on its longstanding expertise in digital development cooperation and jointly with its industrial base, Italy will contribute, in a Team Europe spirit including strong participation of the private sector, to multi-stakeholder efforts aiming at developing a human-centric approach to digital transformation at the global level.

Deputy Prime Minister Tajani mentioned the Italian intention to promote a national plan for Africa – the “Enrico Mattei Plan”. “Placing mutual benefits and common prosperity at the center of our relations with the African countries” as stated by DPM Tajani “is the same approach promoted decades ago by Enrico Mattei, the founder of ENI. The Global Gateway could be considered as the first stepping-stone towards a fully-fledged European Marshall Plan for Africa. We are ready to cooperate to this ambitious project with our national plan”.

Commissioner Urpilainen commented: “We had a very constructive meeting with Vice-President and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss the multiple crises the world is currently facing. Working together in a coordinated manner is pivotal, and I am pleased to see that Italy is such a strong supporter of our Global Gateway strategy, the EU’s positive and sustainable offer to our partners.”

“The Italian government and its innovative private industry have a great deal of expertise to offer to the world. This is why I am particularly pleased that Italy has decided to join the European Union’s Digital for Development Hub (D4D Hub). Italy’s contribution will further strengthen the Global Gateway strategy to promote a green, inclusive and sustainable digital transformation in our partner countries, aligned with European values and high standards.”

They shared views on initiatives to accompany the reconstruction of Ukraine, in its effort to “build back better, in particular to enhance the business environment, the Rule of Law, the fight against corruption and transparency in the Country”. Minister Tajani highlighted the efforts outlined in sharing with Ukraine best practices, Italian know how and standards of our industry. He announced the first bilateral Conference on reconstruction that will be held in Rome on April 26 to discuss concrete projects and cooperation with Ukraine in the sectors crucial for reconstruction, both in the short and in the longer term.

Deputy Prime Minister/Minister Tajani and Commissioner Urpilainen finally agreed on the importance to ensure a swift signing of the new Partnership Agreement with the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.