Eyes on Rome this weekend. For the first time the summit of the G20 is held in Italy, in Rome on 30 and 31 October, under the guidance of the President in charge Mario Draghi. The heads of state and government will meet to discuss important global challenges at the Convention Center-La Nuvola, in the EUR district. The area has already been declared "maximum security" by the Italian government. Attention is high especially after the devastation of the national headquarters of the CGIL last October 9th.
The countries that are part of the international forum represent more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of global trade and 60% of the planet's population, but also 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. The event then brings together the major economies of the world: Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, Russia, United States, South Africa, Turkey and the European Union. To these is added Spain, now a permanent guest at the global summit. The European Union is represented by the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council. In addition, various international organizations also participate, such as the UN and the International Monetary Fund.
It was an important political test for the Italian leadership, which found itself presiding over a summit in one of the most dramatic and darkest years in history, marked not only by the pandemic, but also by a succession of sudden and bitter challenges to world cooperation , such as the Afghan situation and the ongoing tensions between the major world powers, which sees the countries of the "Western bloc" (European Union and the United States) on one side and Russia and China on the other. But Italy appears to have all the credentials to lead the economic recovery. The results say it. We have gone from being the first country hit hard by the pandemic to a global model: with the86% of population vaccinated, 6% growth for 2021 according to the OECD and a virus under control thanks to the measures put in place.
Therefore, the Italian leadership of the G20 not only represents an extraordinary and important media showcase, but also an opportunity to achieve concrete results, strengthen bilateral relations and international cooperation, but above all relaunch Italy's prestige in the eyes of the world.
G20: Rome becomes a "maximum security zone"
It will be a weekend of fire for the Romans. Among the maximum security measures on the occasion of the G20, but also for the planned events. Schools, streets and some metro stops closed, buses diverted, blockades in the center and in the Eur district. A paralyzed city controlled by over 5.300 agents in the road for about 10 square km.
In the light of the latest episodes of violence during the No Green Pass demonstrations and the possible infiltration of the black bloc, the security plan put in place by the Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, also includes dog units, bomb squads, firefighters, snipers on terraces of buildings, helicopters flying 24 hours a day and military drones. Not only that, a "no fly zone" has been established, and border controls have been restored for passengers arriving from the Schengen area from 27 October until 1 November.
G20: What are the themes?
The Roman summit will be structured around three main themes summarized in the three Ps: People, Planet e Prosperity. First of all, the people and the effects that the pandemic crisis has had on the economic and social balance of the world, with a focus on the vaccination campaign. Rich countries are already on their third dose, while in developing countries people do not have the opportunity to receive even the first dose, such as Africa which barely reaches the threshold of 5% of the immunized population.
Another hot topic will betechnology. The climate crisis brings together all the Ps: people's well-being intersects with economic cooperation and all of this affects our planet: from global warming to energy waste to the loss of biodiversity. Draghi himself said that the countries participating in the summit are responsible "for about four fifths of global emissions", but that the effects of climate change mainly affect "the poorest countries". the G20 wants to make its contribution also in the light of the most important international event on the climate, the COP26 which will begin the day after the end of the summit of the 20 big names in the world.
The third theme will be that of prosperity. Leaders will also discuss the post-pandemic economic recovery, rising energy prices and supply difficulties, a global minimum tax of 15% for large corporations, with a focus on technological revolution. "We must all work together for a sustained, lasting global recovery that leaves no one behind," said the Italian prime minister.
Lastly, the Afghan question. The return to power of the Taliban it further divided the world powers. On the one hand Russia and China have recognized their legitimacy as international actors, on the other Europe and the USA have shown themselves to be more reluctant, especially as regards respect for humanitarian rights, first and foremost those of women. A real "colossal and humanitarian crisis, therefore the need to act is immediate". The G20 will have to "rebuild the institutions because the Taliban government has not shown extraordinary administrative capacity", as stated by Draghi during the extraordinary G20 meeting on Afghanistan last 12 October.
G20: Who participates?
The president of the United States will be in Rome Joe Biden, the president of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in. The Prime Minister represents Canada Justin Trudeau. The presence in Italy of the Brazilian president is also expected Jair Bolsonaro. While it will be the last G20 for Angela Merkel as chancellor of Germany. It will also be present Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, Joko Widodo president of indonesia, Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa e Alberto Fernández, president of Argentina. After some indecision due to the epidemiological situation in Australia, the prime minister will also participate in the presence Scott Morrison. Finally, for Spain there will be the prime minister Pedro Sánchez.
Among those absent are: the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who will participate by videoconference, as will the Chinese president Xi Jinping, the Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. The Mexican president will also be missing Andrés Manuel López Obrador which, however, should send Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. He will not be in Rome, but the Russian president will also participate in the meeting via video link Vladimir Putin.
Representing the European Union, the President of the European Commission is also participating in the Italian G20 Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michael.
President Biden has already met Pope Francis in the Vatican on Friday 29 October, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and then the premier Mario Draghi at Palazzo Chigi. After the meeting with the American president, the Prime Minister met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, in the evening, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. Then the long-awaited meeting with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first face-to-face after the telephone conversation in which the diplomatic crisis of the "Sofagate" had already been overcome, when the Italian premier called Erdogan a "dictator".
