Italy Calls for More African Students

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed a desire to increase the number of African students studying in Italy during a conference on August 22. His remarks come at a time of heightened tensions within the ruling coalition regarding immigration and citizenship rights. Tajani's center-right Forza Italia party has proposed granting citizenship to foreign minors who have largely completed their education in Italy, a move that has faced resistance from the coalition's hard-right factions, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Matteo Salvini's League. Speaking at a Catholic business and politics conference in Rimini, Tajani emphasized the importance of educational initiatives, linking them to the Mattei Plan—a development strategy aimed at fostering growth in African nations. He drew parallels between this initiative and the historic Marshall Plan, which provided U.S. support to European economies post-World War II. Tajani's comments highlight a broader vision for Italy's role in Africa and the potential benefits of increased educational exchanges. Despite Tajani's advocacy, Italy lags behind other major European Union countries in attracting foreign students. According to data from Italy's national statistics institute ISTAT, the country issued approximately 25,000 study permits in 2022, significantly lower than France's 105,000 and Germany's 70,000. Factors contributing to this disparity include the limited global use of the Italian language and challenges in securing employment in Italy after graduation. As the debate continues, Tajani's push for more African students may further complicate the coalition's stance on immigration, revealing underlying divisions on how to approach citizenship and integration in Italy.