Transcript G7 and G8: stages of evolution

RUSSIA`S PRESIDENCY IN THE G8:
A SEARCH FOR COLLECTIVE RESPONSES TO
CHALLENGES OF ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL GLOBALISATION
Unique features of G8
Unparalleled concentration of power and influence:
4 nuclear powers and
4 UNSC permanent members
49,8% of the world GDP
49% of the world trade
49,6% of the IMF quota
G7 and G8: stages of evolution
1975 – 1979: from the Rambouillet summit
to the second energy crisis
Core agenda of G7 is defined: international trade,
economic growth, development assistance,
energy security of the Western world
Comprehensive strategy is agreed (1978 Bonn
summit)
1979 oil crisis explodes the Bonn strategy.
1980 – 1990: from the energy crisis
to "velvet revolutions" in Eastern
Europe
Venice declaration (1980): fighting inflation and resolving energy crisis. First
working body of the G7 is established (in 1980; High-level Group on G7
energy strategy)
Financial coordination strengthened (1985 Plaza Accord and 1987 Louvre
Accord)
G7 is turning to its domestic problems (structural change in economy and labor
force discussed at 1988 Toronto summit)
Third world debt reduction process begins: "Toronto conditions“
G7 strategies towards "velvet revolutions" and Soviet perestroika are defined
(1989-1990)
1991 – 1997: from collapse of the Soviet Union
to the emergence of G8
Evolution of Russia's position vis-à-vis G7: from guest status to the "Political G8"
and G8 membership (except some financial issues)
G7/G8 agenda is becoming more political, social and environmental
Reform of the G7/G8 begins (UK Prime Minister John Major's letter of August
1992)
G7 reacts to the 1995 Mexican financial crisis. Reform of IMF, WB and UN
socioeconomic institutions
1996 Moscow summit on nuclear security: a break-through in the evolution
from G7 to G8
Counter-terrorism becomes a major issue (1995 – G8 Expert group on terrorism
is established; ministerial conference on counter terrorism is held)
Globalisation becomes a permanent issue of the G7/G8 agenda ("Making a
success of globalisation for the benefit of all" - 1996 Lyon summit)
1998 – 2001: from the Asian financial crisis
to 9/11/2001
1997 Denver summit: G8 is formed (except some financial issues)
Africa becomes permanent item of G7/G8 agenda (since 1997
summit)
G8 assists in resolving Kosovo crisis (1999)
HIPC initiative is launched (1999 Cologne summit)
Conflict prevention and resolution is discussed (in the aftermath of
the Kosovo crisis)
From 2001 to the present
Key context factors:
- globalization becoming the major trend of world development;
- importance of socio-political issues in the G8 agenda is growing
(employment, poverty, healthcare, life-long education);
- global and transnational problems are exacerbated: ecology, crime
and international terrorism;
- general financial and economic situation of G8 members is
differentiated;
- new global economic players come to the scene: China and India;
- risk of financial crises in some Third world regions persists;
- Republican administration is elected in the US;
- President Vladimir V.Putin is elected in Russia
Principal spheres of G8 action
Contributing to UN Millennium summit goals (fighting poverty in the Third world
through debt reduction; facilitating access to G8 markets; increasing volume
and efficiency of ODA; Global Fund; assisting implementation of the Education
For All Program; helping to overcome "digital divide")
Fighting international terrorism: preventing terrorists' access to WMD;
enhancing transportation security; cutting terrorists' financial flows
Decision to include Russia in the G8 rotating presidency cycle (2002 summit)
Outreach becomes permanent (2002 summit – NEPAD leaders; 2003 summit –
13 leaders of Asian, African and Latin-American countries; 2004 summit –
Greater Middle East leaders; 2005 summit – leaders of key emerging
economies)
Nuclear non-proliferation becomes an urgent issue (Iran, DPRK)
G8 functions in the international
system
G8 as a modern "Concert of nations"?
G8 as a conspiracy of the rich?
G8 as an international interest group at the global level?
Central function: regulating a (limited) number of financial,
economic, political and social processes in the international
system; stimulating evolution of the system
Supporting functions:
Building confidence among G8 leaders through regular personal
contacts
Facilitating identification of common interests on specific problems
and harmonizing approaches to them (Medium-term economic
policy in early 1990's; HIPC)
Elaborating framework rules of behavior for G8 members and
initiating elaboration of universal rules (MTCR, Wassenar regime,
conventions on fighting international terrorism)
Preventing/resolving crises (energy crisis of 1979; Mexican and Asian
financial crises; Kosovo crisis).
G8 levels of interaction
G8 summit
Ministerial meetings:
- Foreign affairs
- Finance
- Justice and Interior
- Environment
- Science and technology ("Carnegie group")
- International development assistance
Sherpa meetings
Foreign affairs sous-sherpa meetings
Finance sous-sherpa meetings
G7 deputy ministers of finance meeting
Political directors meeting
Senior official and experts meeting:
High level group on non-proliferation.
Supervises the following groups:
- experts group on non-proliferation
- working group on Global Partnership
- nuclear safety group
Counterterrorist action group
Experts group on terrorism (Rome group)
Senior experts group on organized crime
(Lyon group)
Working group on biometrics in ID
Personal representatives group for
contacts with Africa
Group of representatives of National
agencies for development assistance
Senior officials group on labor and social
issues
Experts group on Afghanistan
Experts group on SALW control in Africa
Experts group on peacekeeping capacity
building in Africa
Russian presidency in G8
50-60 events as a run-up to the St.-Petersburg summit (July
15-17, 2006)
10-11 February – ministers of finance meeting (world
economy, oil markets, WTO round, financing fight against
dangerous diseases, development assistance,
restructuring third world debt)
15-16 March – energy ministers meeting: energy security
problems to be discussed
24-25 April – health ministers meeting
1-2 June – education ministers meeting
3-4 June – science and technology ministers meeting
15-16 June – interior and justice ministers meetings
29 June – foreign ministers meeting
Russian presidency outreach
17-18 June – G8 Youth meeting
13-14 June – G8 Civil society meeting
Post-summit events
September 2006 – G8 parliamentary
conference
October – labor ministers meeting
27-29 November – International forum on
business community contribution to the
fight against terrorism
Key initiatives of the Russian G8
presidency
Enhancing energy security
Fighting dangerous infections
Promoting professional training
Energy security initiative
Strategic goal: ensuring secure supply of
world economy and population with all
kinds of energy at acceptable prices
with minimum damage to the
environment and based on the balance
of interests of producers and
consumers of energy resources.
Spheres of action:
- strengthening stability and predictability of
international energy markets;
- increasing investments in the world energy sector;
- promoting energy saving and energy efficiency;
- developing alternative energy sources;
- enhancing safety and reliability of world energy
supply;
- reducing "energy poverty" of the Third world
Initiative on fighting dangerous
infections
Strategic goal: strengthening WHO
global network for information and
analysis of infectious diseases.
G8 Action plan on bird flu and its
pandemics among humans
Measures to prevent epidemics related to
natural disasters
Initiative on education
Strategic goal: improving quality of university
education in G8 countries and in the Third
world.
Spheres of practical cooperation:
- modernizing certification mechanisms for the
"new economy" and global labor markets
- adaptation, professional, linguistic and
cultural integration of migrants
Other 2006 summit issues
Regional conflicts: Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan
State of world economy and financial system
Finalizing Doha round of WTO negotiations; Russia's accession
to WTO
Fighting narcotraffic and international terrorism: problem of
Afghan drugs and of diffusion of extremist/terrorist ideologies
through mass-media
Non-proliferation: strengthening international guaranties of
access of non-nuclear states to peaceful nuclear energy
Peace-keeping in Africa
Development assistance.