News
International Remittances Conference in Rome on 9 November
05/11/2009 The purpose of this conference, which follows up on a commitment that the G8 made at the Summit in L'Aquila, is to help developing countries by achieving the “5x5” target, in other words by halving the charges incurred by immigrants when sending remittances from 10% to 5% over five years. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini will be opening the proceedings.
G8 Foreign Ministers' Declaration on the Presidential Election in Afghanistan
03/11/2009 A document issued by the G8 member countries' foreign ministers has greeted the conclusion of the election process in Afghanistan ordered by the Independent Election Committee, as "a new opportunity for peaceful cooperation", and the ministers have encouraged President Karzai to form a credible, competent and effective cabinet as soon as possible in order to address the country's serious social and economic problems.
"Forum for the Future": G8, BMENA Foreign Ministers Meet in Marrakesh
03/11/2009 The foreign ministers of the G8 member countries and of the Broader Middle East and Northern Africa met in Morocco to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the Middle East in general, from the standpoint of security and of economic, democratic and social progress. Representatives of NGO's and of civil society also attended the talks.
Tidewater Conference in Venice from 7 to 9 October
09/10/2009 The meeting, held on the island of San Servolo from 7 to 9 October, was attended by international organisations working in the field of co-operation and with developing countries. The informal talks were promoted in conjunction with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – OECD, in the context of Italy's G8 Presidency.
Istanbul G7: We Must Hang On to Measures To Combat Crisis Until Stable Growth Sets In
03/10/2009 A meeting of the G7 countries' Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, which took place in Istanbul on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank's annual assembly, pledged to keep measures adopted to counter the global crisis in force "until economic recovery is assured".
Original G8 Summit Venue La Maddalena To Host Louis Vuitton World Series
02/10/2009 The sailing event is due to take place in 2010 using the complex originally erected on the archipelago to host the 2009 G8 Summit, before the venue was moved to L'Aquila as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the 6 April earthquake in Abruzzo. The event and the structures in which it is due to be hosted are to be presented at the Genoa International Boat Show.
Progress report on the implementation of the St. Petersburg Principles on Energy Security out
28/09/2009
The paper, which is entitled: “St. Petersburg Plan of Action: Global Energy Security – IEA Evaluation of G8 Countries’ and the European Commission’s Progress on the 7 Key Action Areas” is out, in the English-language version alone, and may be consulted, printed and downloaded in PDF.
G20 Gives Birth to “Pittsburgh Pact” for Sustainable Growth
25/09/2009 The G20 Leaders assembled in Pittsburgh on 24 and 25 September have brought forth a “pact” for sustainable growth featuring measures countering protectionism, supporting the unemployed and fostering sustainable development. They have also agreed on the issue of bonuses for bank executives.
The G8 Foreign Ministers Meet in New York
23/09/2009 UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, too, is attending the traditional meeting of the G8 foreign ministers held on the fringe of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the main international political issues, focusing particularly on Iran and Afghanistan: topics addressed both at the L’Aquila Summit and at the Ministerial Meeting in Trieste.
Prime Minister Berlusconi Reports on G8 in UN Address
23/09/2009 Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi addressed the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in his capacity as G8 duty President, reporting on the results achieved at the L’Aquila Summit and calling for greater coordination between the eight major countries’ Summit and the G20.
UN Summit on Climate Change Opens in New York
22/09/2009 The summit, which was convened by United Nations Secretary General Ban Kii Moon in preparation for next December’s UN Conference in Copenhagen, is being attended by the heads of state and government of over 90 countries and delegations from all 192 UN members. The run-up to the Climate Conference was one of the major topics to work on during the 2009 Summit and through the whole year of Italian G8 Presidency.
Eighth Edition of G8 Speakers' Meeting Held in Rome
13/09/2009 Speakers from the parliaments of the G8 group, expanded to include representatives from Brasil, China, Egypt, India and South Africa, met in Rome from 11 to 13 September. President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Gianfranco Fini delivered welcome addresses on the first day of the talks.
New Arsenal Opens on La Maddalena Island
12/09/2009
The new conference and tourist complex on the island of La Maddalena threw open its doors to the general public with a series of exhibitions, screenings and events on 12 and 13 September. Both visitors from La Maddalena itself and tourists were thus able to discover for themselves what the area holds today in the place of the Italian Navy's former workshops and warehouses.
Bilateral talks between Italy and Spain inaugurate La Maddalena Conference Complex, which will also be opening its doors to the general public
10/09/2009 The venue at which it was originally planned to hold the G8 Summit in July, before it was shifted to L'Aquila, is to open its doors to the public over the weekend of 12 and 13 September for two days of regatas, video displays and events. Today the new conference and tourist complex on La Maddalena is hosting a bilateral summit between Italy and Spain, the first in a full programme of international meetings.
International Conference on Violence Against Women Draws to a Close
10/09/2009 The final declaration calls for a new era in international cooperation and for a broad alliance between all governments and civil society to put an end to every kind of violence against women - "a crime" that prevents them from enjoying their rights and their freedom. The conference also called for men to be involved to a far greater degree.
