Pistelli hails Italian Senate approval of cooperation reform

For the first time in many years, a parliamentary house has approved a text outlining a Italian Cooperation reform that modernises Italian official development assistance by providing more effective instruments and promoting cooperation as an “integral and qualifying part” of foreign policy. “In all these years of attempts, discussion, debate and efforts both inside and outside the halls of parliament, we have never got to this point”, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli, considered the father of the reform. “I would like to thank all the senators who contributed to the substantial improvement of the text. The constructive dialogue with all the majority and minority forces on the Commission, thanks to president Casini and relateur Tonini, made it possible not to have a single vote against it, and only 15 abstentions. This gives us good reason to hope in its passage by the lower house, where we will continue to be open and willing, but with the firm intention to see the text approved before the summer”.