Mattei Plan and the Southern locomotive: strategy and Mediterranean for the redemption of the South

During the speech on the occasion of the signing of the Agreement for development and cohesion with the Puglia Region on 29/11/2024, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, offered a vision that transcends the boundaries of the agreement itself, touching on central themes for the future of the South and all of Italy. Her words recalled the fundamental themes of culture, strategy, and identity as key elements for the redemption of the South, outlining a path of growth that is rooted in the ability of the territories to enhance themselves.

Culture and Pride as Pillars of Redemption

“If we invest in pride, dynamism, flair, creativity, determination, and the desire to do, we can achieve great things,” said the President, emphasizing that the redemption of the South cannot come from welfare, but from enhancing its human and cultural resources. The reference to the pride and creativity of the Southern territories is central to a discourse that overturns the narrative of marginality and subordination that has too long characterized the history of the South.

“The South has been the locomotive of Italy,” he continued, citing data that shows how the southern regions have led the growth of GDP and employment in 2023. This result, according to the President, is a demonstration that things can change, that investment in what makes the South unique and dynamic can produce tangible and lasting results.

Strategy and Vision to Compete on Equal Terms

A crucial point of the strategy outlined by the Prime Minister concerns overcoming the logic of allocating infrastructure funds in proportion to the resident population. “The absence of opportunities is often linked to the absence of infrastructure,” he explained, highlighting how tying resources to the current population perpetuates a cycle of marginalization for the South.

The population of the South, now equal to 34% of the national total, has been decimated by decades of forced emigration, caused precisely by the lack of infrastructure and opportunities. Allocating funds in proportion to the existing population, therefore, only confirms this state of affairs, financing fewer infrastructures and triggering a cycle of decline rather than development. The logic is self-referential: fewer resources mean fewer infrastructures, which in turn lead to fewer opportunities and further depopulation.

If the funds are intended for equalization, their purpose must be to rebalance disparities, not to replicate inequalities. Equalization requires an approach that considers not only the data on the current population but also the strategic needs of a territory that needs to recover decades of structural disadvantages. “We cannot tie infrastructure spending to the existing population, because that means ignoring the damage already done by the lack of investments,” Meloni emphasized.

For this reason, the Government has decided to allocate at least 40% of infrastructure funds to the South, a share that exceeds simple demographic calculations to address the root causes of the gap. It is a paradigm shift that recognizes the need to break the vicious cycle of marginalization and to transform the South into a protagonist of national development. This strategic choice aims to reverse the historical trend, creating infrastructures that not only retain the resident population but also attract new opportunities and investments, thus triggering a virtuous cycle of growth and development.

Mediterranean and South: At the Center of Italian Projection

Recognizing the strategic value of the Mediterranean and the South as a gateway to the world, the Prime Minister recalled: “The Mediterranean is a sea that is becoming central again… and Italy is central in the Mediterranean.” The reference to Italy’s position as a hub between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean highlighted how the South is not a periphery, but a hub of connections and geopolitical opportunities.

“The sea is one of our most extraordinary infrastructures and one of our most extraordinary opportunities,” he stated, reiterating the importance of integrating this vision into the national development plan. Infrastructures, tourism, trade, and international cooperation must start from this centrality of the South and the Mediterranean to project Italy at the center of global dynamics.

A Cultural and Historical Redemption

The President clarified that the Government’s strategy is not limited to economic measures but aims to rediscover and enhance the cultural and symbolic potential of the South. “I believe that the great challenge is to put these territories in a position to compete on equal terms,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a vision that combines local pride and international projection.

This speech fits into a broader framework that sees the Mattei Plan not only as an economic measure but as an act of cultural and strategic redemption. Meloni’s words, “betting on the value and pride of the people of the South,” represent a statement of intent that seeks to heal the historical wounds of the South, restoring its centrality and dignity.

Ultimately, the redemption of the South is not just a local challenge but an opportunity for all of Italy to return to being a strategic actor, rooted in its culture and projected towards the future.