Italy-Africa Summit LIVE: Italian Government Hosts Summit with African Leaders

Summary

The video transcript captures speeches by various world leaders at a summit hosted by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi focusing on strengthening cooperation between Europe and Africa. Speakers emphasize the boundless potential of Africa, the need for sustainable investments in critical areas like energy and food systems, the importance of education and skills training, and the necessity of managing migration through legal pathways instead of illegal smuggling routes. There is a shared ambition to realize Africa's promise through genuine partnerships, long-term engagement and financing Africa's development plans like Agenda 2063.

Takeaways

• 😊 The event brings together leaders from Europe, Africa, and international organizations to strengthen cooperation and partnership.
• 👍🏾 There is recognition that Africa has immense economic potential that can benefit both continents.
• 🌍 Climate change is an urgent challenge requiring joint effort and real partnership between Europe and Africa.
• 🔌 Africa can be a leader in renewable energy and help meet Europe's energy needs through exports.
• 💡 Investments are needed in African infrastructure, education, agriculture and food security.
• 🏢 The private sector has a role to play through investment and helping develop local skills.
• 💰 Financial commitments to Africa must be fulfilled to build trust and address root causes driving migration.
• ✈️ Legal migration channels can provide opportunities and reduce reliance on smugglers.
• 👩‍🎓 Exchanging university students and academics can build bonds between European and African youth.
• ✅ True partnership between equals is essential for realizing the potential of both continents.

Q & A

What is the main message behind the mate plan according to the European Parliament President?

The main message is that when Africa prospers, Europe prospers, and the world will prosper too. There is more strength in nations working together than working against each other.

What does the European Parliament President say Europe understands it has a responsibility to do?

The President says Europe understands it has a responsibility to deliver on its promises, fill the funding gaps that remain, and move on infrastructural, education, agricultural, food security investments in Africa.

What potential does the President of the European Commission highlight that Africa has?

The President highlights Africa's potential to be the next global economic powerhouse, a pioneer in green tech and emerging tourism destinations, and a leader in the digital transition.

What are the three issues the President of the European Commission wants Europe and Africa to work together on?

The three issues are: 1) Energy and climate, 2) Education and skills, 3) Migration.

What infrastructure project linking North Africa and Europe is mentioned?

The first underwater electricity cable linking North Africa to Italy and the rest of Europe.

What university collaboration between Europe and Africa is highlighted?

The University of Parma coordinates the Erasmus project to develop clean energy skills in Africa, with over 50 Italian universities having exchange programs with African counterparts.

What does the UN Deputy Secretary-General say is the critical constraint to progress in Africa?

The lack of finance and long-term investments.

What model does the UN Deputy Secretary-General say African countries have advocated for?

African countries have advocated for a model of bold, substantial, and long-term investments as required to accelerate progress in critical areas.

What does the UN Deputy Secretary-General urge the Italian government to make a reality?

To make transformative and effective equal partnerships a reality, and to use its presidency of the G7 to work with other countries to do likewise.

What opportunity does the UN Deputy Secretary-General highlight occurring later in 2022?

The UN Summit of the Future in September 2022 presents a critical opportunity for change in international systems to make them fit for the 21st century.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Opening remarks and introductions

The opening paragraph introduces various dignitaries in attendance including presidents, prime ministers, ministers, ambassadors, and other officials representing countries and organizations in Africa and Europe. Their names and titles are listed as they are welcomed and announced at a summit.

05:13

😀 More introductions of dignitaries

Additional dignitaries including presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and ambassadors from various African and European countries are welcomed and introduced.

10:28

😀 Introductions continue

The introductions of attending dignitaries continues, welcoming presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and other officials from African and European countries and organizations.

15:33

😀 Further introductions

This paragraph has more introductions of presidents, prime ministers, and other senior officials from African countries and international organizations arriving at the summit.

20:57

😀 Remaining dignitary introductions

The final set of introductions welcoming presidents, prime ministers, ministers, bank directors, and other officials from African and European countries and institutions to the summit.

26:08

😀 Speech addressing collaboration between Africa and Europe

The speech emphasizes strengthening collaboration between Africa and Europe for mutual benefit. It highlights the need for honest partnership, investment in infrastructure and education, addressing migration challenges, and unity in facing global issues like climate change.

31:26

😀 Speech continues on key cooperation areas

The speech highlights key areas for Africa-Europe cooperation including clean energy, skills training, universities, digital connectivity, and managing migration through legal pathways while cracking down on smugglers.

36:31

😀 Speech stresses shared interests and win-win partnerships

The speech emphasizes shared interests between African and European continents, need for equal partnerships and long-term engagement. It praises the legacy of Enrico Mattei and stresses mutual benefits of cooperation.

41:45

😀 Closing remarks of speech

The closing remarks praise the partnership between Africa and Europe and the legacy of Enrico Mattei. It urges continued collaboration to realize the potential of both continents.

46:55

😀 Speech by European Commission President

The President's speech focuses on energy, education, and migration as key areas for cooperation between Europe and Africa. It highlights projects like the underwater electricity cable, hydrogen production, university partnerships, skills training, legal migration pathways and cracking down on smugglers.

52:17

😀 UN Deputy Secretary-General emphasizes financing needs

The UN Deputy SG stresses the importance of sustainable development financing and investment in Africa. He urges bold, long-term commitments from partners like Italy, working constructively with African institutions.

57:20

😀 UN Deputy Secretary-General continues on partnerships and reforms

The speech calls for genuine equal partnerships, constructive engagement with African institutions, long-term investment, and reforms of international systems to support African development.

02:23

😀 Closing remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General

In closing, the UN Deputy SG urges using opportunities like the UN Summit to deliver necessary reforms and support African development ambitions. He encourages working together to realize Africa's potential.

Keywords

💡partnership

The theme of partnership is central to the speeches in the video. The speakers emphasize the importance of Europe and Africa working together as equal partners to foster economic prosperity and address global challenges. For example, the President of the EU Parliament states that "the relationship between our great continents must be characterized by a real partnership of equals." She argues that "we can ensure a path to real prosperity" through "joint effort" and "real partnership." Other speakers also highlight the need for "mutual benefits" and "genuine and equal partnerships." The overall message is that close cooperation between Europe and Africa based on shared interests and mutual respect is essential.

💡sustainable development

Multiple speakers stress the idea of sustainable development, especially in Africa. This refers to economic progress that also protects the environment and meets people's basic needs. For example, the UN Deputy Secretary General urges investment in "critical areas" like food systems and energy to "spur broader development gains." The President of the EU Commission also discusses building skills for green industries in Africa to support "sustainable, inclusive growth." The speakers argue sustainable development in Africa will benefit both continents.

💡energy transition

Shifting to renewable energy or 'energy transition' comes up throughout the speeches. The leaders recognize Africa's potential to be a major producer and exporter of clean energy. For instance, the Italian PM says Africa can help meet Europe's energy needs and "lead the way" in the global transition from fossil fuels. The EU President also discusses plans to finance renewable energy infrastructure in Africa to bring electricity access to 100 million more Africans.

💡climate change

Climate change is identified as an urgent, shared challenge requiring coordinated action. The EU Parliament President notes "the clock of a climate emergency keeps ticking" and this is felt most in Africa. Other speakers argue Europe and Africa must work together to adapt to climate impacts and mitigate further global warming, such as by investing in clean energy in Africa.

💡economic growth

Multiple speakers emphasize the economic potential of Africa, such as the EU Commission President calling it the "next global economic powerhouse." However, they note realizing this potential depends on sustainable development investments, not exploiting Africa's resources. For instance, the Italian PM states "we can grow together sustainably, not at the expense of each other." Therefore, collaborating on economic growth in Africa would benefit both continents.

💡investment

Increasing investment in Africa comes up throughout the remarks, especially Europe's role in financing African development. For example, the EU Commission President highlights the EU's 150 billion euro Global Gateway investment initiative. The UN Deputy Secretary General also urges "bold, substantial and long-term investments" in Africa from European nations. The speakers thus argue expanded European financing and business activity in Africa will spur growth.

💡skills training

Developing skills and education in Africa is identified as a key area for investment and collaboration. For instance, the EU Commission President discusses EU programs to train Africans for jobs in clean energy, vaccine manufacturing, hydrogen production and other fields. She argues this will build up Africa's workforce and talent. The Italian PM similarly highlights the role of African and European universities in developing local skills.

💡migration

The issue of migration from Africa to Europe comes up in several remarks. The leaders emphasize the need to expand legal migration pathways while cracking down on human smuggling operations. As the EU Commission President notes, providing opportunities in Africa will disincentivize irregular migration. The overall message is that migration should be jointly managed through cooperation.

💡security

Some speakers briefly mention working together to address security issues. The Italian PM states that "stability, peace, security" are prerequisites for economic development in Africa. The EU Parliament President also notes Europe and Africa have "joint interests" on security related to trade networks and other areas. However, this is not a major focus compared to other topics.

💡technology

Digital technology and innovation are identified as areas where Africa can thrive with investment in infrastructure and youth skills training. The UN Deputy Secretary General highlights Africa's potential to be a "digital service center," and the EU Commission President discusses a data cable linking universities in Africa and Europe to foster tech research partnerships.

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Transcripts

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presidents dignitaries ladies and

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when Africa prospers Europe prospers and

the world will prosper too we can move

forward

together that is the

message behind my few words today the

sentiment behind the mate plan and the

vision of the European

Union and enrio mate

understood sooner and perhaps B better

than most that there is more strength in

Nations working together than there is

when working against each

other the relationship between our great

continents must be characterized by a

real Partnership of

equals one where we acknowledge the past

and look to the future together that is

how

we all Prosper how all our peoples are

able to thrive and to fulfill their

potential

Tempo allow me also to pay tribute to

the work of the African Union under the

leadership of mfak and president aali

asumani as mfak often says we Europeans

and Africans have a comparative

advantage but if we don't cultivate it

it will disappear to the benefit of

other

players business trade and investment

can only Prosper creating jobs and

sustainable inclusive growth in a

climate of Peace security stability

respect for human rights and good

governance dear friends the world is

changing and we must change with it 12

of the 20 fastest growing economies on

the planet are in Africa it has been

described as the young land in an aging

world and the narrative around the

continent and our relationship must

evolve all of this while the clock of a

climate emergency keeps on ticking

nowhere is this felt more acutely than

Africa and too many places we are seeing

land receding while sea levels

rise the challenge of Our Generation

requires joint effort real partnership

we can ensure a path to real prosperity

economic growth while saving our planet

and safeguarding

rights we've shown that we can be on the

same page time and again as we step up

the energy transition Africa will lead

the way for the global

push we are entering a new era of

international

interdependency where

cooperation has never been more

important and this has made this event

all the more

urgent Europe and Africa have been

friends and allies for many years and

our cooperation has already yielded

tangible results considerable investment

and

sharing yet we need to have the courage

to be honest with ourselves honest about

where we have succeeded honest also

about where we can do better and Europe

understands the responsibility that it

Bears here we need to deliver on our

promises fill the funding gaps that

remain and move on

infrastructural education agricultural

food security

Investments and there are challenges

that go beyond the

immediate I grew up on Malta an island

further to the South than Tunis my

generation is the first not to have

experienced

colonialism we know how difficult it is

to break with the past and Forge New

relationships as partners around the

same table but a new way is possible it

is

desirable and it is

achievable Africa has all that it takes

to be the next global economic

Powerhouse a Pioneer in Green Tech

emerging tourism destinations and a

leader in in the digital transition

nearly half a billion consumers in

Africa already pay on mobile pH phone

platforms launched by local talent in

the energy sector it is a continent

unrivaled Europe has an energy Supply

Challenge and Africa has the potential

to be a massive supplier of any

renewable and green energy this also

applies for raw materials and rare

Earths we can can grow together

sustainably not at the expense of each

other the European and African

continents also have a joint interest

when it comes to security concerns

recent developments underscored those

related to our trade

networks so when we say that Africa must

take its rightful seat at the table as

partners as equals it is an

understanding that our continents our

countes Reas and our people need each

other to emerge stronger from Global

challenges and to Foster economic growth

in a win-win for all Africa has

everything it needs to fulfill its vast

potential and Europe can be a partner

than for instance the Mediterranean

region the potential that it has to

return to its former glory as a hub for

business exchange of goods Services

tourism and ideas are

Limitless too often our discussions are

only dominated by short-term

considerations and this has been

particularly true when we speak about

migration now of course this is a

pressing issue it needs partnership to

address holistically but it is certainly

not the only one our discussions need to

move beyond the immediate and this needs

to start with us on behalf of the

European Parliament I am here today to

show our commitment to making our shared

future safer more prosperous more secure

Europe has a role to play without

imposition with reciprocal trust over

the years of European Parliament has had

the honor of welcoming you many of you

to our house our regular interactions

with parliaments from African countries

and Joint parliamentary assemblies are

an excellent basis and a proof of our

commitment to strengthen

ties

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Mone excellencies dear colleagues ladies

and

gentlemen I think it is very

encouraging to listen to the

distinguished different speakers

today because we all feel that this is a

moment of intense and renewed

cooperation between Africa and

Europe because not only our Destinies

are aligned but also our interests are

aligned more than ever before and we've

heard it we all need to switch to clean

energy and to adapt to the climate

change we all need to train now

Workforce for the jobs of

Tomorrow we all want to stop the tragic

loss of life along the migratory

routes and we all want to give

opportunities to our young

people so it's not only geography that

brings us together but also the

commitment to bring mutual benefits to

all our

people so we have to get concrete

read and I'm very grateful to Italy for

putting cooperation with Africa at the

heart of the foreign

policy and of its G7

presidency the new mate plan comes and

as an important contribution to this new

phase of our

collaboration and it comes

complimentary to our European global

gateway global gateway as you know is

the 150 billion Euro investment plan for

Africa and this is plain and simply team

Europe at

work today I would like to focus on

three

issues where Europe and Africa have

agreed to work together and where

Italy's engagement can really make a

difference First Energy and

climate second education and skills and

third

migration on my first point energy and

climate today only 2% of global

investments in clean energy go to

Africa this is

sobering this is very sobering giving

Africa's immense potential as a clean

energy

Powerhouse Africa has the space the wind

the Sun Sun just to name a few what it

lacks is

infrastructure but together we can

change

this with global gateway we aim to bring

clean energy to 100 million people who

currently don't have access to

energy this can turn out as a double

win Africa cannot only produce enough

clean energy to power up the African

continent but also to create revenues by

exporting preparations have begun for

example to build the First underwater

electricity cable linking North Africa

to Italy and the rest of

Europe and for example our new hydrogen

bank is now open to African producers

this means good jobs energy energy

security for both Africa and Europe

my second Point global gateway has a

strong focus on building the local

skills that Africa

needs we are already at work to train

skills for manufacturing vaccines it has

been said in Randa Ghana

senagal we are training the workforce in

Kenya and Namibia to produce clean

hydrogen and here is the first example

for the complimentarity with the mate

plan

Italy plays an active role over 50

Italian

universities have exchange programs now

with their African

counterparts the University of Parma for

example coordinates the arasmus project

to develop clean energy skills in Africa

and we want to invest in this kind of

cooperation for instance we are now

financing a high-speed data connection

between southern Europe and all Northern

African countries from Morocco and

Algeria to Egypt it will link

universities and data centers and this

allows joint research and Joint

businesses on the two sh shores of the

Mediterranean and what I really like

about this project is it is not only an

investment in Africa's Talent but also

in the people in friendship and in the

next generation of our two

continents and this leads me to my third

point on migration we must crack down on

Smugglers who trade on human life

Smugglers put hundreds of thousands of

lives at Peril they amass young men in

the back of trucks across the desert

they abuse young women along the Route

and they put all of them on rickety

boats that are simply not made for the

high

seas we have to stop that callous

business and the best way to do this is

to join forces and crack down on the

criminals and in parallel to build legal

alternatives to the deadly smuggling

routs We Must Destroy The Smuggler Web

of Lies in recent months we have been

working closely with for example Ivory

Coast Gambia ginaa marania and S Sagal

on our common approach that is clear to

save lives and to create

opportunities we offer more

opportunities to come to Europe legally

so that people can move learn and bring

their new expertise back home and we

cooperate on the return of irregular

migrants because Mobility

must be managed by law and not by the

Smugglers and the better we are on legal

migration the more convincing we are on

preventing irregular

migration ladies and

gentlemen enrio mate was a great Italian

and a great European and a true friend

of

Africa he understood before others that

your strength is our strength and vice

versa and his legacy lives on today our

continents are building a true win-win

partnership with benefits for Africa for

Europe and the world so let's keep up

the good work there's a lot to do thank

you very much for your

attention thank you very much

mamed thank you prime minister Malone

excellencies ladies and gentlemen it is

indeed a pleasure to be here with you

today and I thank the leadership of

prime minister Malone and the government

of Italy for hosting this Summit in this

AUST House of the people I believe that

two things unite each of us here today A

conviction that my continent Africa

holds near boundless potential and we've

heard that from all speakers

today but we also see today that the

geopolitical landscape is fast

changing and that will require a

different way of working towards the

commitment to seeing that the potential

of Africa is realized and some of this

we have seen as demonstrated in the

proposed m

plan yet the global reality is that we

are falling behind the commitments that

we have made over the last decades have

been exacerbated by the lack of ability

to come back from different crisis

climate covid Ukraine and more recently

our moral crisis in Israel and

Gaza at the halfway point of the 2030

agenda progress is on the sustainable

development goals is falling woefully

short

only 15% of the targets are on track to

be met by 2030 and by any standard that

is a fail with our Dynamic and booming

youth population our wealth of critical

minerals and the vast renewable energy

prospects in Africa Africa could become

a clean energy Powerhouse and a digital

service center and the next great

manufacturing Hub of the

world but realizing this immense

potential relies on sustainable

development from building resilient

modern infrastructure including energy

the Food Systems Health Systems and

investing in education and skills for

young people and here we welcome the

African Union making the 2024 its year

of

education but the lack of finance and

long-term Investments is the critical

constraint to current progress as we

deal equally with trying to recover and

invest in peace the SG Finance Gap is

immense and it is growing and sadly many

of our wealthy countries Promises of

Finance for development and climate

action remain unfulfilled eroding a

trust and exacerbating the root causes

of the continent such that we cannot get

ahead of the challenges that face us

excellencies the for the forward way is

of course and always has been clear and

at last year's SG Summit we were pleased

to see global leaders agreed to get the

goals back on on

track that includes endorsing the sg's

proposal for an SG stimulus of 500

billion a year which all of us must try

to get behind but it also includes a

commitment to focus Global efforts on

driving progress in critical areas Each

of which can spur broader development

gains and drive progress across all

goals this approach mirrors the African

Union's new 10-year plan for agenda

2063 as well as the efforts to create an

African Continental free trade area the

Italian government's focus at this

Summit on supporting key pillars from

digitalization to energy and Food

Systems complements this approach it

stands to benefit Italy as well as

African countries and their people and

we welcome the focus on genuine equal

Partnerships which should be at the core

of all development cooperation as

articulated by my brother chairperson of

the African Union commission Mustafa

what does this mean in practice it means

working with Africa's leading financial

institutions such as the African

Development

Bank and the and axm bank to build on

and scale up the strong pipeline of

projects that they have begun and to

deliver them urgently to the

people it also means working

constructively with the African Union

commission and agenda 6 60

2063 it means committing to long-term

engagement rejecting our short-term

approaches and building solid

foundations for long-term development

and

sustainability the model that African

countries have advocated for at least

the past decade since the adoption of

the 2063 agenda but crucially it also

means bold substantial and long-term

Investments as required to accelerate

progress in critical areas such as have

been reflected in the European Union's

global

gateway I urge the government of Italy

to make such

transformative and effective and equal

Partnerships a reality and to use its

presidency of the G7 to work with other

countries to do

likewise the UN family will Avail its

expertise in countries across Africa and

at the global level as with the Rome

based agencies that you so kindly host

here in Rome excellencies accelerating

sustainable development across Africa

relies on a surge in private investment

the international financial institutions

play a critical role in making that a

reality as does the private sector here

the international financial institutions

can hope to leverage and to help us D

risk for African countries and here

African countries play a strong role in

working with the World Bank and its new

vision for people prosperity and a

livable plan Planet but also with the

IMF to further the opportunity of the

resilience of sustainable ability trust

and the poverty reduction and growth

trust it also means pursuing peace and

stability and we welcome the African

Union's ambition to silence the guns as

part of the 2063 agenda it does also

mean creating policies and regulations

needed to attract companies underpinned

by strong well-run public institutions

and it means increasing domestic

resources through effective and

transparent means in both Partnerships

on which the private invest can and

build excellencies to support

sustainable development across Africa

and beyond our International systems

need a refresh so that they are fit for

the 21st century and the numerous crisis

that we Face we see ourselves facing

every year our International financial

institutions largely reflect the world

in which they were created almost 80

years ago African countries are not

represented appropriately and the

institutions are largely insuff

efficiently responsive to their needs

and it is now time to make that change

we need new Frameworks to address these

Technologies and to help release the

potential so that we can accelerate

towards the Ambitions and the vision of

agenda 2063 on all these fronts this

year presents a critical opportunity for

change from the UN Summit of the future

in September can be that change we're

urging African countries to work

together for an outcome that delivers

the change that we need with that

Collective voice we also urge Italy to

join hands and support these efforts

using again its G7 leadership its

membership of the G20 to bring other

nations on board together we believe

that working in genuine and equal

Partnerships we can realize the imental

potential of Africa for the benefit of

everyone that shared ambition is what

unites us here today and we wish you

every success with this important

Gathering thank you

thank you very much

see

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