Proposals for the G8

From July 8-10 L’Aquila, the city devastated by an earthquake three months ago, will be in the limelight for the G8 meeting and for other meetings attended by representatives of world political and economic powers. The European Union will be represented by the Commission and by the Council (but not by the Parliament). After having taken the lead in a number of initiatives aimed at countering recession, the EU attends the summit with a number of proposals approved by the 27 States, although inside the EU, crisis and climate change proposals are far from being unanimously endorsed. Sustainable rules and policies. “This year’s G8 summit will take place in a very difficult moment”, while Europe has taken on “a leading role in meeting the challenges regarding, for example, the monitoring of financial markets, sustainable climate policies and world trade”. The most persuaded upholder of the originality and effectiveness of EU positions is José Manuel Barroso. Before leaving for Italy the President of the EU Commission remarked, “This summit gives us the opportunity for further commitments. We ought to rapidly implement world financial system reform. We ought to act with determination to counter climate change” and “fulfil our commitments towards the poor”. In L’Aquila Barroso co-chairs the session with EU Council President-in-office Reinfeldt from Sweden. Items on the agenda include world economy, climate change and energy, the situation in Africa and in the Middle East along with food development and safety. Climate, employment and food safety. The G8 is represented by the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan and by four EU Countries: France, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy, the hosting Country. During the G8 informal meetings will take place between the Countries present for the summit and those attending the Major Economies Forum represented by China, India and Mexico. Barroso will focus upon “the importance of temperature increase that must be contained within 2°C” , reiterating “the objective of reducing world emissions by at least 20% within 2050”, underlining “the opportunities offered by low carbon economy”. The head of the Executive said he will “encourage the G8 to send a strong signal” so as “not to give in to protectionist stands in the area of trade and investments, given the current crisis in the economy”. He will also ask governments “to give priority to citizens, by developing social and employment policies that may contribute to the protection of people and jobs”. In L’Aquila Barroso recalls “the important role played by world food safety”. The consequences of recession. On his part, Fredrik Reinfeldt, European Council President-in-office and Premier of Stockholm, present to G8 participants the basic points of his program as EU27 rotating president. These include measures to monitor international financial markets, those aimed at curbing the impact of the economic crisis upon employment and on European social environments, along with measures to contain polluting emissions. Indeed, these positions were expressed last week when he officially took EU lead, “Europe is in the front line in the fight against climate change and in seeking efficient solutions to the recession. Primary importance is given to the question of energy, that is closely linked to the first two issues”. Reinfeldt said he is “aware” of the ongoing complex challenges and of the fact that “positive responses can be found only by involving developing Countries” and emerging powers, starting from China and India, providing aid to poor Countries, which are experiencing the negative consequences of the crisis and climate change, without having sufficient means to address these issues. After the summit, European questions. Upon return from the G8, Reinfeldt will address a number of political passages within the EU. In fact, next week he will refer to the European Parliament on the G8 meetings and will confront MEPs on the EU presidency program. He will then seek to persuade the 27 Member State representatives to adopt a unanimous stand on the climate summit scheduled for next December in Copenhagen. Two institutional questions are still hanging: the process for the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon (with Ireland’s referendum) and its enforcement; the appointment of the President of the Commission and of the college of Commissioners. The adjournment of Euro-Chamber vote on this subject, initially scheduled for July 15, gives reason to envisage an “arm wrestling” on the name of Barroso, whom the European Council indicated for a second mandate but who is still seeking the support of MEP majority in Strasbourg.