Foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday that he wanted more African students to come to Italy, in remarks that may exacerbate a coalition squabble over immigration and citizenship rights.
Tajani's centre-right Forza Italia party has urged the government to consider granting citizenship to foreign minors who have completed most of their education in Italy.
The proposal has met with opposition from the two hard-right coalition parties, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Matteo Salvini's League.
"I think the numbers of African students studying in Italy should be increased", Tajani said at a Catholic business and politics conference in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.
He was discussing an Italian development initiative for African countries, known as the Mattei Plan, named after the late founder of Italy's state-controlled energy company Eni.
Tajani likened the project to a modern-day Marshall Plan, which saw the United States support European economies in the aftermath of World War Two.
Far fewer foreigners study in Italy than in other large European Union nations.
Data from Italy's national statistics institute ISTAT shows the country issued around 25,000 study permits in 2022, compared to almost 105,000 issued by France and about 70,000 by Germany.
ISTAT cited the relatively limited use of Italian as an international language and the difficulties of finding work in Italy among probable reasons for the dearth of foreign students.
Latest Stories
-
Employees must file annual income tax returns – Ghana Revenue Authority
16 mins -
Does the Police law empower police to run a broadcasting service?
1 hour -
GFA dissolves Black Stars Management Committee after AFCON qualification disappointment
1 hour -
The Thomas Partey Tournament: Empowering Ghana’s Youth through football
2 hours -
Nana Akomea calls for public inquiry into ‘expired rice’ saga
2 hours -
Maintain Otto Addo despite AFCON 2025 no-show – Nana Akomea advises GFA
2 hours -
GFA issues apology to Ghanaians for Black Stars failure to qualify for AFCON 2025
2 hours -
Nautyca releases new single ‘Nalani’
3 hours -
Ablakwa slams Chief of Staff for ‘whitewashing’ ‘expired rice’ for SHS scandal
3 hours -
Regulators of financial institutions urged to develop policy framework for climate financing
3 hours -
Akufo-Addo: New BoG HQ to enhance reform capacity and investment climate
4 hours -
DRIP initiative improves over 80km of roads in Greater Accra, says RCC
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo to commission over 80 educational projects today
4 hours -
Police to set up Election Task Force Briefing Centre for 2024 polls
4 hours -
AFCON 2025: GFA to apologise to Ghanaians for Black Stars failure
4 hours