PM Abiy: Africa-Europe Relations Must Deliver Tangible Benefits and Shared Prosperity

Addis Ababa, February 13, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Africa-Europe relations must move beyond dialogue to deliver tangible benefits and shared prosperity for citizens across both continents, as he addressed the 2nd Italy-Africa Summit held in Addis Ababa today.

The 2nd Italy-Africa Summit was held today in Addis Ababa, co-hosted and presided over by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy. The one-day meeting brought together African heads of state and government, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and high-level delegates from Italy, African countries, and international and multilateral institutions.

Speaking at the Summit, described the summit as a pivotal moment to translate strategic discussions into concrete development outcomes.

He emphasized Ethiopia’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Italy and African partners, noting that the partnership should be action-oriented and grounded in mutual benefit. Abiy said Italy’s Mattei Plan aligns with Ethiopia’s development priorities by integrating energy security, sustainable development, migration management, and human capital into a unified strategy.

“Our participation since the first Italy-Africa Summit reflects a shared commitment to move beyond borders,” Abiy said, stressing that cooperation must focus on improving lives rather than remaining at the level of policy dialogue.

The Prime Minister highlighted Addis Ababa’s growing role as a continental diplomatic capital and an emerging hub for aviation, logistics, and global conferences. He said Ethiopia is increasingly connecting Africa to global markets and ideas, strengthening the continent’s voice in international affairs.

Turning to Africa’s demographic advantage, Abiy described youth as the continent’s greatest asset. He stressed that investing in skills development and job creation is essential to unlocking talent and preparing for future opportunities.

Technology and innovation, particularly artificial intelligence and digital transformation, were identified as central pillars of future growth. Abiy noted that emerging technologies can modernize energy systems, improve agricultural productivity, enhance health services, facilitate trade, and deliver people-centered public services.

“By combining Africa’s energetic and creative population with Europe’s experience, technology, and capital, we can build solutions that deliver prosperity to our continents and beyond,” he said.

Abiy also outlined Ethiopia’s homegrown economic reform agenda, which he said complements the Mattei Plan. He cited renewable energy expansion, climate-smart agriculture, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and human capital investment as key priorities. Major hydropower projects, expanding regional interconnections, rail and aviation infrastructure, and the development of innovation hubs were highlighted as foundations for sustainable growth.

He further stressed that migration management, climate action, technology investment, and economic transformation must advance together within a balanced and future-focused partnership framework.

In his concluding remarks, Abiy reaffirmed Ethiopia’s resolve to deepen strategic cooperation with Italy and African nations, calling for a renewed Africa-Europe relationship built on dignity and shared progress.

“Together, we can shape a new Africa-Europe relationship, not based on dependency but dignity, not on extraction but shared prosperity, not on the past but on a future we build together,” he said.