G8 summit in Toyako - Opening remarks by EU Commission President Barroso at press conference

Sommaire: 7 July 2008, Hokkaido, Japan - Opening remarks by José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission, at the G8 Summit Press Conference in Toyako

This summit needs to show that the world's leading economic powers can tackle global challenges that concern everybody, everywhere: climate change, development, the world economy and rising food and energy prices. We need to provide a strong impulse for lasting solutions to these global problems. The G8 needs to give concrete answers. In testing times for the global economy, which hit hardest those who are already the most deprived, our determination to act must be clear.

I have come to Hokkaido to help drive forward efforts to reach a global climate change deal by 2009 at the Copenhagen conference. We must ensure there is no going back on our commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. And I will support global efforts to mitigate the impact of rising food and oil prices. I will announce a new initiative to help agriculture in developing countries.

I will call for a meaningful and ambitious long-term goal to combat climate change. I hope that all G8 members will recognise that we must reduce net global emissions by at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2050. Developed countries can do more and commit to reductions between 60 and 80 % by 2050. But agreeing on the need for a meaningful and ambitious mid-term target would boost the credibility of the long-term target. In other words: it is nice to set a long-term goal for our children, but we need medium-term targets for ourselves.

"Serious considerations" are no longer enough. We need a decision and clear commitment on these goals. Those who were previously reluctant to commit to action have run out of excuses. The case for action to fight climate change and curb emissions has never been stronger. The science is there, support from public opinion is there, the economic rationale is there, reinforced by the high and drastically rising energy prices of recent times. I see an opportunity for real movement and agreement on time-specific and quantified goals from the world leaders at this summit, and to be fair, I see we are getting closer to consensus between us.

I will insist that we can generate prosperity and create economic opportunities, while we engage in ambitious, global climate action towards these targets. This is what the European approach to climate action, with fair and balanced effort-sharing, is about.

I want to engage emerging economies and developing countries to share common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. And we in the European Union are ready to support and engage with them on technology and financing. To give just one example: We should join forces and pool resources to progress technological developments that will enable us to bring second generation biofuels, which do not compete with food production, into the market as fast as possible.

The EU is strongly committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

In 2007, 60% of worldwide Official Development Aid came from Europe and European aid has increased by 30% since 2002.

European Heads of State and Government just adopted an ambitious EU Agenda for Action on the Millennium Development Goals at the European Council in June.

But we must step up our efforts, both in Europe and at the G8. We have to show that we are ready to deliver on our commitments. There is no going back.

The Commission has moved fast to respond to the food price crisis, and its impact in particular on developing countries.

So far we have mobilised 550 million euros to respond in 2008. But as the European Council meeting in June made clear, high food prices are severely affecting the world's poorest populations, and indeed even put at risk our progress towards the MDGs. So additional measures are necessary.

We have looked at ideas to use unspent Community funds in a creative and positive way. The EU is ready to give a fresh boost to agriculture in developing countries:

I am announcing today our intention to propose a new 1 billion euro facility to support agriculture in developing countries, aiming at generating a strong and rapid agricultural supply response. This would, in practical terms, mean that EU funds would finance providing, for instance, fertilizers and seeds to help poor farmers in developing countries.

We don't have much time, but let me just say that I will explore answers with colleagues in the G8 that help to remedy the situation in the short-term, medium-term and long-term. We must find structural solutions to structural problems like the high dependency on fossil fuels. The Commission already set out its views in two policy papers on both fuel and food prices in June.

Let me finish with a few remarks on trade and investment. We want a comprehensive, ambitious and balanced conclusion of the Doha Development Round. Doha is good for Europe, it is good for the global economy and it is good for the development world. The window for a deal will be closing soon. I call on all our partners to seize this chance to inject new dynamism for growth into the global economy, and I believe the G8 should support a rapid conclusion of the round.

I will also call on the G8 to send a strong signal that the G8 wants to resist protectionist pressures in trade and investment relations. An open investment environment is essential within G8 countries and in the rest of the world. We all have a lot to lose by erecting more barriers.

Ref: SP08-142EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 7/7/2008

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