G20 preparatory meeting
Inclusive economic growth, climate change mitigation, partnership with Africa – these are only some of the main topics on the agenda of next week’s G20 summit in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July. At a preparatory meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with European summit participants about the summit schedule.
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At a preparatory meeting with Angela Merkel, the European G20 summit participants underscored their will to cooperate
Photo: Bundesregierung/Bergmann
In addition to generating inclusive growth around the world, Chancellor Angela Merkel cited climate change mitigation, empowering women, mastering the refugee crisis and fighting international terrorism as major objectives. "We, the European participants at the G20 summit, want to make a joint contribution to ensuring that the G20 signals its intention to take resolute and determined action to address the concerns of the world, the challenges of the world." Angela Merkel reaffirmed this in a statement to the press following the preparatory meeting at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin.
The European members and participants at the G20 summit in Hamburg are France (Emmanuel Macron), the United Kingdom (Theresa May) and Italy (Paolo Gentiloni). Spain (Mariano Rajoy), the Netherlands (Mark Rutte) and Norway (Erna Solberg) are invited guests. The EU is represented at the G20 by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. All of them attended the preparatory meeting in Berlin.
Free trade is important
The Chancellor warned of the dangers posed by protectionism and isolation. It is not enough just to focus on oneself, she said. Worldwide trade must rather be based on fairness, multilateral agreements and rules. The aim is to ensure that as many people as possible worldwide benefit from economic growth, stressed Angela Merkel.
The leaders’ summit will take place in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July. The G20 is the central forum for international cooperation on financial and economic issues. The leading industrialised countries and emerging economies together represent almost two thirds of the world’s population, more than four fifths of global GDP and three quarters of global trade.
Clear commitment to climate action
From left to right: Paolo Gentiloni, Mariano Rajoy, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Mark Rutte and Erna Solberg
Photo: Bundesregierung/Bergmann
"We all support the Paris Agreement, but are also working to find common solutions," reiterated the Chancellor after the meeting. This is also an important message for developing countries. Angela Merkel made it clear that, "We regret the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Agreement." Climate change issues will also be discussed in Hamburg.
Expanding partnership with Africa
"Africa is our neighbouring continent," pointed out Angela Merkel. "We are connected, especially by the challenge of migration." That makes the partnership with Africa another focus. All participants are united in their efforts to resolve the problems facing us, the Chancellor assured her audience. Germany’s G20 Presidency aims to expand cooperation with Africa. Germany is pushing for a partnership with Africa, that would put in place a stable framework for inclusive growth and sustainable economic development.
Empowering women
At their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, the heads of state and government also agreed to enhance the role played by women in development around the world. This affects women’s entrepreneurship, the education opportunities open to them, and their opportunities to find work, said Angela Merkel.
Berlin, 29.06.17: The aim was to prepare the ground for next week's G20 summit in Hamburg. The Chancellor hosted a meeting of the heads of government of participating European states.
The weather couldn't dampen the spirits of Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who was first to arrive. The Netherlands is a guest at this year's summit.
Three European states have been invited to attend the Hamburg summit as guests. Norway will be represented by Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will also be in Hamburg with a Spanish delegation.
British Prime Minister Theresa May met earlier with the Chancellor for talks. She had to leave the meeting early to return to London for a vote in the House of Commons.
The Chancellor welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron.
And for Italy, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni attended the meeting.
The European Union is also part of the G20. Alongside the President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, attended the meeting in the Federal Chancellery.
"We will only be able to find the right answers to the critical questions of our time if we work together," Angela Merkel said in a government statement on the G20 that morning in the German Bundestag.
The Chancellor aims to see the G20 summit send a signal of its determination.
The 20 leading industrialised nations and emerging economies must demonstrate that they have understood their major responsibility for the world, and that they accept this responsibility.
Inclusive economic growth, climate change mitigation, anti-terrorism and the partnership with Africa are the main topics for next week's G20 summit, said the Chancellor.
"We, the European participants at the G20 summit, want to make a joint contribution to ensuring that the G20 signals its intention to take resolute and determined action to address the concerns of the world, ...
... the challenges of the world," Angela Merkel reaffirmed in a statement to the press.
The leaders' summit will be taking place in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July.