Italy's Mattei Plan strengthens EU-Africa partnership - VdL - Politics. Italy's Plan to create strategic partnerships with African countries strengthens existing cooperation between the European Union and Africa, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said on Monday.
"I am very grateful to Italy for putting cooperation with Africa at the heart of its foreign policy and of the G7 presidency," she told the Italy-Af Africa summit in Rome. "The interests and destinies of Africa and Europe are aligned more than ever before," continued the EC chief.