On the eve of the first G7 ministerial meeting under France’s presidency, ONE calls on G7 Foreign Affairs ministers to prove that multilateralism is still relevant in the fight against inequality.

Friederike Röder, ONE’s EU and France Director said: “The G7 Foreign Affairs Ministers are the first to meet this year, the outcome of their meeting will set the bar for what can be expected of the French G7. The first thing they could deliver is the change we’ve been promised: a more transparent, inclusive and truly accountable G7 which delivers actions not words. Without this, it might as well sign its own death warrant.

The G7 is in the midst of a legitimacy crisis, but it remains the reference for multilateral action worldwide. It gathers the biggest donor countries helping finance the development of the poorest regions in the world, and as such, it has a primary responsibility in the fight against growing global inequality. However, radical reform is needed to ensure that this summit of the world’s largest economies remains able to tackle major international challenges and ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development does not go unheeded.

 Friederike Röder continued: “France has already announced that the fight against gender inequality and building a new partnership with Africa will be a G7 priority. This meeting of Foreign affairs ministers now needs to lay the groundwork for a productive G7 that yields meaningful change for women and girls everywhere. This must include policy change and additional financial resources. We’re disappointed that Secretary Pompeo will not be attending the ministerial and will not be present to help shape the agenda. All G7 leaders must take this ambitious agenda seriously to achieve real progress.”

ENDS

Note: This statement was first released on 4th April, 2019