Migration and energy on the Italian agenda
In Italy, the right-wing coalition government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, focused on supporting Ukraine under three main headings: Euro-Atlantic, European Union (EU) and Mediterranean, combating irregular migration and becoming a powerhouse. in foreign policy in his 100 days in power.
The right-wing coalition government, established on October 22, 2022, following early general elections on September 25, 2022, left behind 100 days in power. During this time, Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed the government’s foreign policy priorities with their trips, actions and speeches abroad.
Regarding the Ukraine war, which has an important place in foreign policy, Prime Minister Meloni stressed his commitment to the Euro-Atlantic alliance, despite the choppy voices of power partners from time to time, and confirmed that they will continue providing arms assistance. to Ukraine throughout 2023. Meloni, who wondered what his relations with the EU would be like because he came from far-right politics, had serious problems with France, one of the member countries, in terms of irregular immigration, which he highlighted in the first days.
The fact that Italy closed its ports to the boats of European non-governmental organizations rescuing irregular migrants in the Mediterranean in early November caused Paris to react harshly at the time. On the issue that increased tension on the Paris-Rome line, the Meloni government partially reopened its ports to non-governmental organization (NGO) ships, with messages of solidarity on EU immigration.
Meloni’s government, which puts the issue of migration on the agenda of every EU meeting, remains the target of criticism from some circles in Europe, with the decree it issued at the beginning of the year to make the activities of NGOs ships harder.
OBJECTIVE TO BE AN ENERGY DISTRIBUTION CENTER
At the 8th MED Mediterranean Dialogue Forum held in Rome in early December 2022, Meloni said: “Italy is firmly committed to its commitment to strengthen its role in the Mediterranean with this government.” power bridge for
In this context, Prime Minister Meloni’s trips to Algeria on January 23 and to Libya on January 28, and the agreements signed there, are some of the steps he has taken to become an energy hub.
During Meloni’s visit, Italian energy company ENI first announced that it would supply 28 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Algeria by 2024 and then signed an $8 billion natural gas deal with the National Petroleum Corporation (NOC). ) in Libya.
Meanwhile, in addition to Meloni, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tajani also visited Turkey on January 13, Tunisia on January 18 and Egypt on January 22, and discussed the issues of cooperation and regional stability in different areas of the Mediterranean. with your interlocutors
“This is a foreign policy that goes back in some ways to the tradition of Italian, Euro-Atlantic, European and Mediterranean foreign policy,” said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Institute of International Affairs (IAI). (AA)