ODA bill reform as a priority bipartisan matter

During the May 28th presentation of the ActionAid annual report on Italian development cooperation, the current Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sen. Mantica, and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. D'Alema in a bipartisan move both agreed to deal with the legislative reform of the ODA bill, as a matter of priority. They also agreed to restart discussions from the text that was tabled for discussion in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate during the last legislative term. Undersecretary commended Minister Frattini’s decision to directly deal with development cooperation and Sub-saharan Africa, as a first sign of political commitment by the new Government on development cooperation related issues. Meanwhile rumours warn against a sudden and significant financial reduction in the current development cooperation budget, in mid-June.