"This was a successful G8 summit"
In a joint statement by President Barroso and President Van Rompuy following the G8 Summit, the two Presidents expressed their satisfaction with the results from the Summit: "On Northern Africa and the Middle East, we have agreed on a global concerted response. The Deauville Partnership builds very much on the EU's new partnership with the region, as clearly reflected in the Summit Declaration". On the economy, there has been "clear determination by all partners to address those issues in each region that could hamper the global recovery, which we all want to speed up". The first ever joint declaration on Africa, as well as the G8 agreement to enhance international standards on nuclear safety as the EU asked for, are also among the important results of the Summit.
"We must stand with those who seek freedom and democracy"
Support to the democratic transitions in the Middle East and Northern Africa, the highest possible safety standards around the world for nuclear energy, deepening of the G8's special commitment to Africa and more effective multilateralism and global policy-making, notably on world trade issues, are the four main areas in which the EU wants to achieve results, President Barroso said in his statement at the press conference before the G8 Summit. On the democratic transitions in the Middle East and North Africa, the President stated: "We must stand with those who seek freedom and democracy." and added that in the framework of the Commission's Neighbourhood Policy review, the Commission is "putting the largest amount of money on the table. I will set out to the G8 this new approach. It means more support for more reform".
"Shaping and supporting a changing world"
The G8 summit will take place from 26 to 27 May in Deauville (France). In 2011, France chairs both the G8 and the G20. The European Union, as a full member of the G8, will push for ambitious answers to common challenges.
This is the first time since the beginning of the transitions in the Arab world that the G8 leaders convene to address these developments. The Summit is expected to deliver a strong message of support to the democratic transition. "The European Union will come to Deauville to push for a new partnership of the G8 with those neighbours in the Southern Mediterranean that have chosen the path of freedom and democracy" said President Barroso. The EU has already set out its approach towards the region in its strategy on the 'Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity'.
The Commission has just proposed ambitious actions to support our neighbours to the South and East even more effectively under its Neighbourhood Policy review . This includes additional aid of 1.24 billion € that would bring our total support for the regions to nearly 8 billion in the next two years. The EU thus remains by far the largest donor and investor in political and economic reforms.
The gathering will also serve as a platform to promote nuclear safety at global level following the nuclear incident in Japan. In a statement on Wednesday, President Barroso said that "the EU will seek to commit its partners to highest safety standards, ambitious stress-testing of nuclear power plants and enhanced international cooperation."
The main topics to be discussed by G8 leaders in Deauville are:
- developments in the Middle East and North Africa
- nuclear safety
- Internet
- world economy and trade
- green growth and innovation
- peace and security issues
- development accountability
- the G8 Partnership with Africa -- leading to the first joint declaration between Africa and the G8.
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G8 Summit, Deauville, 26 to 27 May - Day 2by Barroso930 views
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