On 1 January 2024, Italy was appointed to hold the presidency of the G7 for the seventh time: the group that brings together Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The G7, in which the European Union also participates, is bound together by common values and principles and plays an undeniable role in the defence of freedom and democracy and in the management of global challenges.
The Italian Presidency will last until 31 December 2024 and will feature a dense program of technical meetings and institutional events throughout the country. The major event, the G7 Leaders’ Summit, will take place from 13 to 15 June in Puglia.
Among the priorities of the Italian Presidency will be the defence of the international system based on the rule of law. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has undermined its principles and has triggered a growing instability, which is evident in the various outbreaks of crisis. Equally important is the conflict in the Middle East, with its implications for the global agenda.
A central theme will be the relationship with the Developing Nations and Emerging Economies. Priority will be given to Africa. The goal is to establish a win-win partnership model, far from paternalistic or predatory logics. Particular consideration will also be dedicated to the Indo-Pacific region.
Italy will devote great importance to migration concerns and will place on the agenda several of the most significant challenges of our time, including the climate-energy nexus and food security. The G7 has a responsibility and a duty to seek innovative solutions together with its global partners.
Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence will be included in the Italian programme. A technology that can generate great opportunities but also enormous hazards, besides affecting geopolitical equilibria. It is necessary to develop governance mechanisms and ensure that AI is human-centred and human-controlled, giving concrete application to the notion of algoretics.
“We have a great responsibility lying on our backs and we intend to honour it to the best of our abilities, showing once again how capable Italy is of charting a path.”
– Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni
