The G20 took place in the French Riviera town of Cannes on Nov 3-4, with the media spotlight largely on how to resolve the Greek debt crisis but NGOS urging world leaders to put development issues on the agenda. Read InterAction's news release on Summit outcomes.
The G20 Cannes Summit Declarations and Reports are available here, and include the:
- Final Communiqué
- Cannes Summit Final Declaration
- G20 Development Working Group Report
- Ministerial Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture
- Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion report to G20 leaders
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters at the beginning of the Cannes summit that the poorest in the world could not be victim of the current global financial crisis. InterAction also believes strongly that these financial troubles should not be resolved on the backs of the poor. One of Sarkozy's first meetings was with U.S. President Barack Obama. Read a transcript of their comments.
A highlight of the summit for NGOs was the release by philanthropist Bill Gates of a report outlining innovative financing mechanisms to fund development. See InterAction's response to the release of the Gates report.
In the report, Gates said leadership from the G20 was "critically important", especially during dire economic times when it was even more important to build on improvements over the past decade in areas from health to poverty reduction. He urged the G20 grouping to keep development on the agenda and for donor nations to meet their aid commitments and spend that assistance strategically.
Ahead of the G20, InterAction president and CEO Sam Worthington joined a group of civil society leaders who met Sarkozy in Paris to discuss priorities for the summit. Read Sam's impressions of the meeting.
France also hosted the G8 meetings in Deauville on May 26-27, where countries renewed their commitment to freedom and democracy (See G8 Deauville Declaration), pledged to help Arab countries transition into democratic societies (See Declaration of G8 on Arab Spring), stand by partners (See G8/Africa Declaration), and be held accountable (See Deauville Accountability Report).
InterAction would like to see more follow-through on promises made at summits such as the one held in Deauville and Cannes. (See press release). See what our members had to say about the G8 here.
Resources
Policy briefs, papers and other information from InterAction, our members, partners and experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the G8/G20 process.
NGO leaders meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy
