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Main results
President Donald Tusk represented the EU at the G7 summit, where leaders discussed global challenges such as Iran, trade tensions, the fight against inequalities and climate change. They also discussed the global issue of the wildfires in the Amazon. At the end of the summit, they adopted the G7 Leaders' Declaration.
The summit took place under the French presidency of the G7, which is centred around the fight against inequalities. With that goal in mind, the French G7 presidency has adjusted the format of the G7 to involve international partners and representatives of civil society.
The EU's priority during the summit was to defend the rules-based order and its organisations as the best approach to global governance.
Donald Tusk warned ahead of the summit that the meeting would be a difficult test of unity and solidarity for the free world and its leaders:
"There is still no certainty whether the group will be able to find common solutions, and the global challenges are today really serious, or whether it will focus on senseless disputes among each other. The last years have shown that it is increasingly difficult for all of us to find common language when the world needs our cooperation more, not less. This may be the last moment to restore our political community."Remarks by President Donald Tusk before the G7 summit
Foreign policy and security affairs
Leaders discussed pressing foreign and security issues, such as:
- Iran
- Ukraine
- Russia
- the situation in Syria and the Middle East
- Libya
- the Korean Peninsula
- Hong Kong
They focused on relations with Iran following the country's decision to reduce the implementation of certain aspects of the nuclear deal. They discussed a French initiative to reach out to the Iranian authorities or de-escalate the situation.
"We fully share two objectives: to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons and to foster peace and stability in the region"G7 Leaders' Declaration
Leaders also agreed to disburse €20m to finance aeroplanes to fight the wildfires in the Amazon rainforest recognising the global nature of the environmental catastrophe.
On Ukraine, leaders agreed that France and Germany will organize a Normandy format summit in the coming weeks to achieve tangible results.
The G7 leaders also reaffirmed the existence and importance of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 on Hong Kong and called for violence to be avoided.
On Libya, they supported a truce that will lead to a long-term ceasefire.
"We believe that only a political solution can ensure Libya’s stability. We call for a well-prepared international conference to bring together all the stakeholders and regional actors relevant to this conflict."G7 Leaders' Declaration
Trade
Leaders discussed the global economic outlook and issues related to trade tensions. They also talked about international taxation, especially on a coordinated approach to the issue of taxation in the digital sector.
Leaders exchanged views on how to safeguard the rules-based trading system and how to de-escalate current trade tensions. They also tasked the G7 finance ministers to closely monitor the state of the global economy.
The reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was also on the agenda, following the commitment made at the G20 summit in Osaka to modernise the WTO.
"The G7 wishes to overhaul the WTO to improve effectiveness with regard to intellectual property protection, to settle disputes more swiftly and to eliminate unfair trade practices."G7 Leaders' Declaration
The G7 committed to reaching in 2020 an agreement to simplify regulatory barriers and modernize international taxation within the framework of the OECD.
Africa
G7 leaders endorsed a new framework between the G7 and Africa. They worked together to find ways of cooperating with African partners to develop tools to support sustainable economic development across the continent. The results of the talks are reflected in the Biarritz Declaration for a G7 and Africa Partnership.
In addition, a specific G7 action plan on the Sahel was endorsed to improve development and security cooperation.
The EU also announced financial support for the African Development Bank's Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme. The EU's contribution of over €85 million will help develop 100 000 businesses run by women.
- Sahel Partnership Action Plan, 26/08/2019
- Biarritz Declaration for a G7 and Africa Partnership, 26/08/2019
- Annex 1 - Promoting women's entrepreneurship in Africa
- Annex 2 - Digital transformation in Africa
- Annex 3 - Transparency in public procurement and the common fight against corruption
Fighting against inequalities and women's empowerment
Leaders underlined the significance of women's participation in the labour market, and highlighted the importance of education for girls and women, especially in developing countries. G7 partners have also committed to specific areas of action to achieve progress on gender equity.
As regards financial commitments, the EU announced a contribution of €550 million to the replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. "This means that our overall involvement will exceed €1 billion," said President Donald Tusk at the beginning of the summit.
The EU will also contribute an initial €1 million to the International Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which Nadia Murad and Doctor Denis Mukwege, winners of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, presented to G7 leaders during the summit in Biarritz.
Climate change and oceans
On climate change, the EU and other G7 partners reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Leaders followed up on the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter agreed last year at their summit in Canada and discussed further initiatives to reduce plastic pollution.
G7 leaders also endorsed a charter on biodiversity, as adopted by the G7 environment ministers in May 2019. The charter aims to boost efforts to halt biodiversity loss and to sustain a healthy planet.
Digital transformation
Leaders also discussed the digital transformation and how to ensure that it is open, free and secure. The discussion focused on ways to defend our democratic societies and institutions – and our electoral processes – from foreign threats.
Leaders exchanged views on how to continue the fight against terrorist content online. They also discussed international cooperation on artificial intelligence.
About the French G7 presidency
France holds the G7 presidency until 31 December 2019 and hosted the G7 meeting in Biarritz.
Under its G7 presidency, France aims to combat the root causes of inequality. The French G7 presidency focuses on five priorities in the fight against inequality:
- fighting inequality of opportunity
- fighting inequality related to environmental degradation
- security and counter-terrorism
- fighting inequality through digital development and artificial intelligence
- combating inequality through a renewed partnership with Africa
For more information visit the G7 summit website:
About the G7 summit
The G7 summit is a forum that plays an important role in shaping global responses to global challenges, complementing the global economic coordination carried out by the G20.
It brings together leaders from the EU and the following countries:
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- the United Kingdom
- the United States
This summit followed the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada.
Leaders have been meeting in the G7 format since 2014 following the Russian Federation's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The EU as G7 member
In 1977, representatives of the then European Community began participating in the London summit. Originally, the role of the EU was limited to those areas in which it had exclusive competences, but this role has expanded over time.
The EU has gradually been included in all political discussions on the summit agenda and , from the Ottawa summit (1981) onwards, has taken part in all summit working sessions.
The EU has all the responsibilities of membership. The summit communiqué is politically binding on all G7 members.
The rotation of the presidency is as follows: Japan in 2016, Italy in 2017, Canada in 2018, France in 2019, and the USA in 2020.
