Brussels, 17/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - During the meeting of the G8 (in Genoa, from 20 to 22 July), placed by Italy under the sign of "poverty reduction", the President of the European Commission hopes the world's most industrialised countries will send a strong political message in favour of opening and responsibility towards third countries and civil society. Participants will not fail to evoke, on the fringe of or within this body, the problem of missile proliferation. This issue should, moreover, be discussed on Wednesday and Thursday in Rome by the Foreign Minister of the G8, during an overview of sensitive international issues.
On Friday afternoon, a brief G7 meeting (without Russia) will be mainly devoted to nuclear safety in Russia and Ukraine (see EUROPE of 6 July, p.11). The G8 will begin on Saturday morning and will tackle the following four main themes:
- Poverty reduction: The Commission hopes the G8 will identify measures to support the economies of the poorest countries on the basis of an "integrated strategy". It trusts that other countries will float similar initiatives to its "Everything but Arms" proposal. Mr Prodi would also like to place emphasis on investment in the education and health sectors, making reference to the Community action plan to fight against transmissible diseases. The World Fund for Health and the Fight against AIDS, created by the UN, should receive political and perhaps also financial support from the members of the G8 (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.8). Also on the table are the two "task forces" set up during the G7/G8 in Okinawa, the Digital Opportunities Task Force and the Task Force on renewable energy.
- Fight against cross-border organised crime: It is expected there will be debate on judicial cooperation, the fight against corruption, computer-based crimes, on-line child pornography and trafficking in human beings.
- Environment: The US position on climate change should seize the attention of the G8 (ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, see above).
- Food safety: Mr Prodi hopes reference will be made to the precautionary principle in the G8 conclusions.
