Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for an increase in the number of African students studying in Italy. His remarks, made at a Catholic business and politics conference in Rimini, could intensify the ongoing coalition debate over immigration and citizenship rights.
Tajani’s centre-right Forza Italia party supports granting citizenship to foreign minors educated in Italy, a proposal met with resistance from the more hard-right factions of the coalition, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini.
While discussing the Mattei Plan, a development initiative aimed at supporting African countries, Tajani expressed his desire to see more African students in Italy, drawing parallels to the Marshall Plan, which revitalized Europe after World War II.
However, Italy lags behind other European Union nations in attracting foreign students. In 2022, the country issued approximately 25,000 study permits, significantly fewer than France’s 105,000 and Germany’s 70,000. Factors such as the limited use of Italian globally and difficulties in securing employment are thought to contribute to the lower numbers.
Tajani’s proposal reflects broader discussions within Italy’s government on immigration and the country’s role in international development.
