Bari – After the controversies that accompanied yesterday and the morning of today, June 14, the leaders meeting in Puglia found convergence on the G7 declarations. The Sherpas appointed by the various delegations, in the setting of Borgo Egnazia, also managed to find an agreement on the most discussed issue in the last 48 hours, that of the inclusion of the word “abortion”. A word that will not be in the 36-page document. Rather, we opted for this formula: «We reiterate the commitments expressed in the final communiqué of the G7 in Hiroshima for universal, adequate and sustainable access to health services for women, including the rights to sexual and reproductive health for all». In the closing statements of last year’s Japanese summit, the term “abortion” was explicit.
Rights of the LGBTQIA+ community
Find a partial denial of the news Bloomberg, according to which references to the LGBTQIA+ community would have been removed from the final text. The leaders, in their declarations, highlight a “strong concern for the reduction of the rights of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people around the world, particularly in times of crisis”. The G7 representatives decide to rigorously condemn “all violations and abuses of their human rights and fundamental freedoms”, committing themselves to the achievement of “gender equality”. However, a lexical “demotion” emerges compared to the Hiroshima text: in Borgo Egnazia, in fact, the need to use the terms “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” was not felt.
Migratory phenomena
On the migration front, the heads of state who are part of the group of seven underline the need to “prevent and combat migrant trafficking”, also thanks to a collective effort and a strengthening of cooperation. “We will focus – we read – on the root causes of irregular migration, on efforts to improve border management and curb transnational organized crime and on safe and regular routes for migration”. So that, “together”, the G7 countries can “face the challenges and seize the opportunities that migration presents, in partnership with the countries of origin and transit”.
Foreign policy
The warnings to Russia and China were widely anticipated and find space in the conclusions. Moscow, the leaders highlight, must “end its illegal war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine”. From an economic point of view, the G7’s reaction is to use the 50 billion from the profits generated by the frozen Russian assets to support Kiev. Furthermore, they undertake to hinder Russian revenues from the import of metals from Moscow territory. Beijing ends up on the table of the Borgo Egnazia defendants both for its aid to Vladimir Putin and for the distortions it brings to the market with its maxi-exports.
Middle East, Africa and artificial intelligence
On the Middle Eastern front, the G7 leaders, from Puglia, warn Israel: the UN refugee agency must be able to work in the Gaza Strip. The call for the release of hostages held by Hamas is coupled with “a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance across Gaza and a lasting end to the crisis, with Israel’s security interests and the safety of Palestinian civilians in Gaza guaranteed”. Finally, in the final declarations, appreciation is expressed for the Italian government’s Mattei Plan and an “inclusive development” of artificial intelligence is promoted, so that the technology is “safe, protected and reliable”.
