“After 27 years, Law 49/87 gives way to a reform waited for nearly three decades. International cooperation makes a major step forward as a protagonist of International Development. We agree with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affaris, Lapo Pistelli, who says that cooperatives are the most effective enterprises in generating growth in developing countries: cooperation is an integral and qualifying part of development”. Maurizio Gardini, president of Confcooperative, concerning the approval of the reform of the Italian Development Cooperation law.
Federica Mogherini, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had worked hard on the reform, stressed the importance of the adoption of the reform with a substantially unanimous vote. The Deputy Minister Lapo Pistelli said that he was very satisfied with the work and has emphasized the increased participation of stakeholders, greater efficiency and less waste and overlaps.
The Senator Giorgio Tonini, keynote speaker of the bill of reform has shown the most relevant news: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will change its name into Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Moreover, there will be a unified system under the direction of the Foreign Minister, the obligation to appoint a Deputy Minister responsible for Cooperation, the establishment of an Agency (as already exists in the best European experiences), and a dedicated Development bank.
“It ‘s an important day: we face a new and very innovative law which puts Italy at the forefront in Europe,” said Matteo Passini, President of Coopermondo – Confcooperative. “In recent years, the comparison with the MFA and the Parliament on the reform project has involved a variety of stakeholders: civil society organizations, businesses, local authorities, foundations, institutes of cooperative (BCC) and ethical finance that have facilitated a shift of paradigm. It is important that Italian cooperatives contribution to international development have been recognised alongside the NGOs’, as main actors in the international processes of fight against poverty.
“For many years,” – Director of Coopermondo, Danilo Salerno, said – “cooperatives have been engaged in different projects in many African and Latin American countries encouraging sustainable agriculture to ensure food security and sovereignty. In those countries they play a crucial role in promoting social inclusion and job creation through access to credit and the creation of welfare services. Their role and their nature, in any way similar to that of a for profit enterprise, has had the proper recognition among development cooperation actors, set out in Article. 25, para. 2, letter. e) of the new law. “
“With the new reform” – he concluded – “Italian international cooperation strengthens the tools to promote a good internationalization of enterprises, addressing the private sector to a synthesis between new opportunities and the promotion of development. On this topic, our organisation has created a program of events, during the Italian Semester of Presidency of the European Council. From the first event, scheduled on 16th September in Rome at the Palace of cooperation, we will discuss the new role of private sector in international cooperation together with NGOs, international institutions and all Italian and European stakeholders”.
