EU for "New Dynamic" on G8-G20+ Global Governance at French Presidency Nov. 2010-Nov. 2011

EU Heads of State/Government's "Full Support to create a New Dynamic to the G8 and G20+" was "received" by "French President Sarkozy, as incoming chair", after he "outlined some of his Ideas" for the 11/2010 - 11/2011 period, anounced from the outset EU President, Herman van Rompuy, speaking about such "upcoming meetings... crucial for Global Economic perspectives", including the "G20 Summit in Seoul and the EU - USA Summit, both to take place in October", which need "further preparation" next month.

- According to its Official Conclusions, "the European Council ...Welcomes the Ambition of the incoming French Chairmanship in 2011 to fully use the G20 and G8" in order for "the EU (to) actively contribute, through coordinated positions" in "the G8 and the G2O's ... important fora for the Definition of Global Responses to many of the Challenges facing us".

- "The recent Economic and Financial (Global) Crisis has dramatically shown the extent to which the Well-being, Security and Quality of Life of Europeans depend on External developments", while also, "EU must be an effective Global Actor, ready to share in the Responsibility for Global Security and to take the lead in the definition of joint responses to common Challenges",  EU Summit's Conclusions point out, after EU Heads of State/Government "set general Orientations with a view to a number of Important Events over the coming weeks and Months"; and "also Decided on a number of concrete Measures to more generally enhance the Effectiveness of the Union's External policy". " We (EU) can only be Strong, if we are United", warned particularly "on... Foreign Policy', van Rompuy.

- 'The G20 Summit in Seoul (11-12/11/2010) will allow a review of the global Economic Recovery and the Commitments made" earlier, observe EU Summit's Conclusions, pointing, "in particular', on the need to "stress the importance of ...Financial Reform", "on the financial Supervision package and ..the Regulatory framework by ...2011",  "conclude the WTO-DDA Negotiations',  "and implement theFramework for ...Growth", on which, "details" and "the EU's Position" will be "discussed" and "set" on "October",  EU Conclusions add.

- "We (EU) took as a Union the Initiative" "on" creating (alongside the pre-existing G8) also "the G20", reminded van Rompoy, referring to the 2008 French President Sarkozy's initial proposal, on which, after negotiations, all EU Countries, USA, Russia, China, Canada, a.o. agreed then, in an Urgent attempt to start tackling the Global Financial and Economlc Crisis.

- But, several "Months Ago, visiting our Capitals", van Rompuy "noticed Frustration" of EU Countries' Heads of State and Government", particularly "following the Copenhagen (UNO Climate change) Summit", and the perception was that the EU was Side-lined", (as even the then  Australian Prime Minister notoriously denounced, ... before losing his job, despite a large Majority Democratic Vote in his favor at the latest National Elections, of this traditionaly AngloSaxon country..),  mainly by the famous .. G2 deal between USA and China, (apparently brokered in a rush, as "EuroFora" personally witnessed at UNO's Copenhagen's CCC 12/2009 Summit, when Obama suddenly rushed ... running fast through the empty then, UNO's main Press Center, followed, far behind, by an obviously suffering US State Secretary, former USA 1st Lady Hilary Clinton, in a probable attempt to reach, thanks to this unusual path for Chiefs of State/Government, who were normally using 1 Floor Higher, ...more Rapidly than others, the Chinese President,Hu Jintao, together with the soon Outgoing Brazilian President Lula, etc).

+ Real steps towards a  progressive Democratisation of Global Governance (AGG), obviously should not stop only on the G8 to G20 initial 2008 EU achievement, but advance further than that, since it's incomprehensible to see f.ex. only Turkey inside, while the greatest Continent in the World : Africa, is still excluded, in addition also to many other big Countries, often with important Natural or other Resources, (Minerals Oil/Gas, Funds, etc), not only in Africa but also in Asia, Latin America, etc, experienced EU/CoE/UNO "EuroFora" observers had already warned earlier... (Comp. f.ex., Nov. 2008 "EuroFora"'s relevant publication)

- "Our (EU's) Economic outlook was not good" then, estimated van Rompuy, "whereas Others in the World were Growing (more) Rapidly. Moreover, we (EU) started to realise how the economic strength of Emerging Countries is transforming into real political Power", and  "his affects us", (EU), because "New players do Not always share our interests and Worldviews", he found.

- But now, "thanks to today's discussion", "we (EU) have precise Ideas on how to position ourselves", p.ex.  "vis-à-vis China", van Rompuy observed. Indeed, EU Summit "discussed how to give New Momentum to the EU's External relations, taking full Advantage of the Opportunities provided by the Lisbon Treaty". It agreed on the need for EU Summit to "decide on a number of concrete measures to...enhance the Effectiveness of the Union's External policy", and  set "General Orientations" for "a number of important events over the coming Weeks and Months"

In particular, "October will see summits with China and the Republic of Korea and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), followed later in the year by a summit with India", as well as with the USA (November 2010).

Meanwhile, the success of the Middle East Peace negotiations is in the strategic interest of the EU", who adopted a Declaration.. EU's "Neighbourhood policy, for instance Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership is of the highest importance . Our reputation in the world starts with stability on our own continent. If you want to be Global players, you have to be, and we are, Regional players" too, van Rompoy.pointed out.

EU "can draw on its firmly-rooted belief in ...Multilateralism, especially (in) the UN, universal values, open world Economy", etc. and is "the Largest Donor to countries in need, the 1st Trading Power in the World", developing "a common Security and Defence Policy supported by Crisis Management tools" which must be "reinforced".  It ..plays a major stabilizing role in its Neighbourhood", f.ex. by "securing stability in the Western Balkans particularly through the European perspective", EU Summit's Conclusions note.

- "This Council discussed how we can reinforce our Internal and External capacity to act", nuanced EU Commission's President Jose Barroso, acknowledging, however, that "the main topic today", was "the Strategic partnerships and ...issues of Foreign Relations"

-  EU's "Economic situation is today Better than what we expected it to be one year ago, but ...we should keep our efforts and ..on ... Fiscal consolidation and structural Reforms, ...also delivering on Economic Governance, on reform of Financial markets, and also in the way we handle these issues Globally, from the G20, to the relations with our main strategic partners", he observed.

But Baroso was the only one to obviously vary, a little-bit, by preferring to stress that "after 6 years of experience as President of the Commission in Global negotiations and in Summits with our most important partners,....I have presented some ... Ideas, ....so that those that represent the EU, namely President van Rompuy and Myself at Summit level",  "are with the backing of the EU as a whole", and " I made clear that the Commission will fully commit to this in all the areas in which we, Commission, represent the EU externally", according to his speaking notes.

- "The changing Global balance means that we (EU) simply cannot afford to waste the Potential influence that we have at our disposal", he went on to add."The choice is not "strong influence for Member States, and little influence for the EU institutions" or "little influence for the Member States and lots for the EU". The choice is whether we are strong together or weak separately". Because. "..even the Biggest Member state of the EU is not so big as our most important strategic partners, but together the EU is the No 1 Economy in the World. These were, from my point of view, the most important points", he found.
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SARKOZY :

Speaking in a Press Conference after the EU Summit, French President, and incoming G8 - G20 Chairman, Nicolas Sarkozy,  anounced that he will deal "in detail only after the Seoul Summit" (11-12 November 2010) with the "targets of the French G20 Presidency (11/2010-11/2011) and its working methods". But he already "presented the Priorities of the G8 and G20 ...Presidency" to Brussels' EU Summit, responding to "a demand by President Van Rompoy", and was "glad to see thet the European Council fully suports our targets", and that "all our European partners ...agreed with the in-coming French Presidency's orientations".

- Meanwhile, on Economy, "it's true that EU is the 1st Economic and Commercial Power in the World, and is decided to make her Voice heard" : "That's the main message" of this, September 2010 EU Summit, Sarkozy stressed.

F.ex., "today", contrary to the Past, "European Growth is superior of that of USA's, and it's the economy of our american friends which raises concerns", he observed.

- "Europeans decided, mainly on Trade discussions, ... a strategy of give and take, of mutual concessions, equilibrated relations, to sum up : of Reciprocity", as "EU Council's Conclusions point out for the 1st time" explicitly, he noted, explaining, however, that this goes "vis a vis our Big Partners, and not with the poorest, and mainly emerging Countries"

- Moreover, "in order to reinforce our (EU's) influence, we decided to establish a concrete Roadmap for each big meeting", (i.e. for the forthcoming USA, China, India, and other bilateral summits), for which "EU Council will determine 2 or 3 Priorities, with precise targets, that EU Commission will indicate" : "EU Commission's mandate includes Trade negotiations, but EU Council (i.e. Heads of State/Government together with EU President Van Rompoy) will determine precise targets".

- "F.ex., concerning China, we (EU) want more equilibrated relations : Europe is the 1st Market in the World, (and) China is the main area of Growth in the World. So, our interests converge potentially. For that purpose, Europeans expect concrete steps from China : F.ex. the imperious necessity to strengthen Intellectual property, (and) the opening of our public procurements", in exchange.
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MERKEL :

- "Large Global Topics on the Agenda, for example the issues of world Currency regulations, Raw Materials and also Global Government guidance", are among "the  French proposals for the G20 and G8-French Presidency", (11/2010 - 11/2011), "on the basis of which, we (EU) had a good debate", German Chancellor Angie Merkel observed, in her own Press Conference, held at an adjacent Room.

- "We support France in this Beginning, and believe that the French G20-Presidency will be ...very Important". It received "a broad Support from (EU) member States", who also wished "a strong and "visible" French presidency", the German Chancellor concluded.

This goes, in particular, regarding "the Question to which we arrive naturally"

- after South Korea (11-12/11/2010 Summit), where  the G20-Presidency will be still concerned with views on the (Global Economic) Crisis", to face which it was created in 2008 -

which is : - "What will the role of the G20 be in the Future?", Angie Merkel highlighted.