Il primo Fondo europeo per lo sviluppo: prospettive dall’Italia e dalla Somalia (1958-1963)

This chapter aims to shed light on the results of the first European Community aid in Somalia and the role played by Italian and Somali actors in the allocation of funds. As development policy was not one of Italy's priorities in European integration, Somalia was initially the most neglected territory by the European Commission. Italy's passivity was countered by Somali politicians, who demanded an increase in funding as early as 1958. After independence, taking advantage of the Cold War aid competition, they won a greater commitment from the EEC, but this was far from the end of Somalia's dependence on external funding.