G20 meeting, Hamburg, Germany, 7-8 July 2017

Background:

The G20 brings together 19 countries plus the European Union. G20 members account for over 80% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and they host almost two-thirds of the world's population.

The summit was established in 2008 amidst the global financial crisis to increase international economic cooperation. Since then, G20 members have been meeting annually to discuss a wide range of issues related to economic and financial cooperation.

The 11th G20 Leaders’ Summit took place in Hangzhou, China on 4-5 September 2016.

The European Union is a full member of the G20 alongside four of its member states: France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. In addition, Spain is a permanent invitee of the G20 and the Netherlands is a partner country. The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission represented the EU at the summit.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel chaired on 29 June 2017 a preparatory meeting with the European heads of state and government participating to the summit.A meeting of the G20 leaders was held in Hamburg, Germany on 7-8 July 2017. The theme of the German presidency of the G20 was 'Shaping an interconnected world'. G20 Hamburg had three main aims:

• Building resilience
• Improving sustainability
• Assuming responsibility

The leaders discussed the main topics of economic, financial, climate, trade, employment and development policy. Migration and refugee flows and counter-terrorism were other key issues of global significance that appeared on the summit agenda.

• Primary Source

European Council: Statement, 29.06.17: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the G20 preparation leaders' meeting in Berlin http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/29-tusk-remarks-berlin-preparation-g20/

Website: G20 Germany 2017 https://www.g20.org/Webs/G20/EN/Home/home_node.html

EurActiv, 03.07.17: Merkel says growth must be inclusive as G20 protests begin http://www.euractiv.com/section/g20/news/as-anti-g20-protests-begin-merkel-says-growth-must-be-inclusive/

The Guardian, 03.07.17: Protesters plan to 'kettle' leaders at G20 summit in Hamburg https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/03/protesters-plan-to-kettle-leaders-at-g20-summit-in-hamburg

EurActiv, 04.07.17: [Opinion] At G20, the EU must walk a tightrope on trade policy http://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/opinion/at-g-20-the-eu-must-walk-a-tightrope-on-trade-policy/

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: How can the G20 summit be successful? / G20 dogged by disunity http://www.eurotopics.net/en/181830/how-can-the-g20-summit-be-successful

Spiegel Online International, 30.06.17: The Trump in the Road Merkel Concerned G-20 Summit Could End in Fiasco http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/eu-us-trade-conflict-threatens-to-escalate-ahead-of-g-20-a-1155342.html

G20 Research Group: University of Toronto: G20 Hamburg 2017. Priorities of the 2017 G20 Summit http://www.g7g20.com/publication/priorities-of-the-2017-g20-summit

G20 Information Centre: University of Toronto: 2017 Hamburg Summit: Documents and statements http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/summits/2017hamburg.html

Deutsche Welle: Tag: G20 (Group of 20), Hamburg, July 2017 http://www.dw.com/en/g20-group-of-20/t-17358948

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 05.07.17: Judy Asks: Is the G20 at a Crossroads? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/71426?lang=en

EP: EPRS: At a Glance, July 2017: The G20 Summit in Hamburg: Key issues http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2017/607295/EPRS_ATA(2017)607295_EN.pdf

Politico, 05.07.17: Ahead of G20 summit, EU sees itself as ‘global point of reference’ http://www.politico.eu/article/ahead-of-g20-summit-eu-sees-itself-as-global-point-of-reference/

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/1941, 07.07.17: Presseerklärung von Präsident Juncker bei der gemeinsamen Pressebegegnung mit Donald Tusk, Präsident des Europäischen Rates, vor dem G20-Gipfel http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-1941_de.htm

European Council: Press Release, 07.07.17: Remarks by President Donald Tusk before the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/07/07-tusk-remarks-before-g20-germany/

ECFR: Commentary, 06.07.17: The Hamburg G20: A clash of competing visions of world affairs http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_hamburg_g20_a_clash_of_competing_visions_of_world_7209

ECFR: Commentary, 04.07.17: Three songs about Donald Trump’s trip to Europe http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_three_songs_about_donald_trumps_trip_to_europe_7308

The Conversation: Tag: G20 http://theconversation.com/uk/topics/g20-750

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: Does the world need the G20? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/182146/does-the-world-need-the-g20

European Commission: DG Communication: STATEMENT/17/1960, 08.07.17: G20 Leaders ́ Declaration: Shaping an interconnected world http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-1960_en.htm

European Council: Press Release, 07.07.17: G20 Action Plan on Countering Terrorism http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/07/07-g20-counter-terrorism/

European Council: Press Release, 08.07.17: G20 Leaders' Declaration - Shaping an interconnected world http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/07/08-g20-hamburg-communique/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 10.07.17: Europe After the G20 Summit http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/71472?lang=en

ECFR: Commentary, 07.07.17: Hamburg G 20: A test for the China-EU-US triangle http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_hamburg_g_20_a_test_for_the_china_eu_us_triangl

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