Berlin (dpa) – Long-term support for Ukraine, progress in climate protection and strengthening of democracies around the world: These are the goals that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) set as host for the G7 summit starting next Sunday in Schloss Elmau.
He also hopes that the western economic power groups can ward off the food crisis caused by the war. “If Elmau sends a signal of unity, I will be very satisfied,” the Chancellor said in an interview with the German Press Office.
After a good six months as chancellor, Scholz is hosting a major summit in Elmau for the first time. Over the weekend, on the edge of the Alps, he will receive US President Joe Biden and the heads of state and government of five other Western economic powers: France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan. The three-day meeting was framed by two other important summits. On Thursday and Friday the 27 EU countries will discuss the membership applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in Brussels. After the G7 summit, the 30 NATO members will then gather to organize military reinforcements for the eastern alliance region in response to the Ukraine war.
As host of the G7 summit in particular, the chancellor has big plans:
Ukraine
Above all, it had to be about long-term relief for the country, which was already badly damaged after four months of war. “It is clear, and we will reassure there as the G7, that we will support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” Scholz told dpa. “Putin seems to be hoping things will settle down once he’s taken control of enough land and the international community will get back to business as usual. It’s an illusion.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was connected to the deliberation in Elmau via video.
climate protection
This was originally planned as a central topic at the summit, but has now been pushed into the background due to the Ukraine war. Scholz wants to promote his idea of a climate club, which dates back to his time as finance minister: “States that are on a joint journey for more climate protection should be able to work together as we envision for the rest of the world.”
democracy
Scholz wanted to risk more democracy at the summit, citing Willy Brandt, one of his predecessors. “Our understanding of democracy fails if we focus solely on the classical West,” he said. The strong democracies of the future can be found in Asia, Africa, and South America, and one should network better with them. That’s why Scholz invited India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal, and Argentina as guest countries to Elmau. “It would be a special success if the summit could be the starting point for a new worldview of democracy,” Scholz said.
food crisis
Experts warn of the worst famine since World War II as a result of the Ukraine war. The “Group of Seven” will look for ways to unblock Ukraine’s grain exports in the Black Sea. Scholz called on Russia to give up the dispute over safe corridors. “You have to hope to the world that understanding can be achieved.”
When the summit in Elmau begins on Sunday, important decisions will be made for the EU in Brussels, after which NATO wants to adjust for the future in Madrid. This is the Chancellor’s plan for the other two peak marathon stations.
European Union Summit
During his trip to Kyiv, Scholz spoke clearly in favor of Ukraine and Moldova being candidates for EU accession. Now he wants to convince the remaining skeptics, some of whom set the conditions for approval. Austria also wants Bosnia-Herzegovina to have candidate status. Romania wants to involve Georgia. Scholz has not positioned himself on such ideas. But it was important to him that the EU also changed to make it easier for new members to be accepted. “To do this, it has to modernize its structure and decision-making processes. It is not always possible to decide unanimously on everything that has to be decided unanimously today.”
NATO Summit
Scholz set the example for the NATO summit during his visit to Lithuania two weeks ago. The Bundeswehr will lead a brigade of combat troops to protect the Baltic nation bordering the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. This also means an increase in the troops at the site, which currently includes 1000 German soldiers. “We will defend every inch of NATO territory along with our allies if they are attacked,” the Chancellor assured. In addition, the problem in Madrid is to unblock Turkey’s blockade of Finland and Sweden which joined NATO. So far no agreement in sight.
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