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The G8 L'Aquila Summit - TUAC Evaluation
Le Sommet du G8 à l'Aquila - Evaluation du TUAC

10/07/2009

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Summit Overview

1. The G8 L’Aquila Summit took place amidst fears of an escalating global jobs crisis, despite reports of economic ‘green shoots’. Whilst the figures released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the eve of the Summit forecast a weak recovery in 2010, they also signal that “unemployment rates will reach double digits in some countries, holding back wages and household spending and presenting significant policy challenges” . Earlier forecasts published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) predicted increases in unemployment of up to 59 million worldwide by the end of 2009.

2. The G8 sessions at the Summit were followed by meetings of the G13/G14, as well as a session of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on climate change. Over 40 countries  and international organisations  took part in the Summit, including the Director-General of the ILO. The Summit issued a 40-page economic statement, ‘Responsible Leadership for a Sustainable Future’ made up of the following sections: Economic and financial crisis: the way to recovery (§7-59); Sustainable use of natural resources; climate change, clean energy and technology (§60-93); and development and Africa (§94-134). Statements on water and food and agricultural security were also issued, together with a joint declaration by the G13 on “Promoting the Global Agenda” and by the MEF on Climate Change.

3. A union delegation comprising the three Italian trade union confederations and TUAC (also representing the ITUC) attended the Summit and met with the Brazilian President Mr Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the ILO Director-General, Mr Juan Somavía, on the margins of the meeting. They delivered a strong message on the need for trade unions to be given a seat at the table in the new global governance structures, including at the next G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, 24th-25th September 2009 – a proposal supported by President Lula.

4. This meeting followed a tripartite consultation, held prior to the Summit, with the host, Prime Minister Mr Berlusconi, employers and a G8 trade union delegation. Trade unions called for urgent action to tackle the global jobs crisis and break the vicious circle whereby rising unemployment is fuelling the economic crisis through a series of knock-on effects on the demand side that further increase unemployment. They also underlined the value of strengthening social dialogue in resolving this crisis. The delegation presented the trade union Statement to the G8 L’Aquila Summit ‘Putting Jobs and Fairness at the Heart of Recovery: the Role of the G8’ , which sets out trade union recommendations in five priority areas:

- Jobs and Incomes;
- Fixing the Financial System;
- Public Finance and Taxation;
- Global Governance; 
- Development;
- Climate Change.

A summary of unions’ key demands, which was included in the Summit documentation, is attached in Annex I to this evaluation and a list of Summit documents in Annexes II and III.
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The full evaluation is attached in English & French.

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