High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell following the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting

05.05.2021

The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental format that brings together the world’s leading industrial countries: three EU Member States (France, Germany and Italy), the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and the European Union. The Group meets in different configurations: heads of state and government (“leaders summit”); seven ministerial tracks that cover economic, environmental, health, trade, technology, development and foreign policy issues; and various engagement and advisory groups.

 

On 3-5 May 2021, the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers met in London. HR/VP Josep Borrell represented the EU, accompanied by Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen during the session with Development Ministers on 5 May.

Preparing the summit of heads of state and government on 11-13 June, Ministers discussed a wide range of geopolitical issues of common interest. Ministers from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Brunei (that currently holds the ASEAN chair) also took part in a discussion on the Indo-Pacific region. The Ministers also discussed a number of cross-cutting issues, such as freedom of the media, religion and belief, the fight against arbitrary detentions, cyber governance and internet shutdowns, and the fight against disinformation and foreign interference.

Together with the G7 Development Ministers, they took stock of different issues that could ensure the sustainable recovery from the pandemic, such as the vaccination and education challenges.

In a joint communique, the G7 Foreign Ministers affirmed the need to take collective action on the most pressing foreign and security challenges, agreed to tackle threats jointly and commit resources to achieve shared security, and act together to better defend the values of democracy and freedom in the world.

 

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