Ukraine and global foreign policy issues:
Over dinner on Wednesday night, G7 leaders focused on Ukraine, their relations with Russia and their response to the crisis. President Van Rompuy said: "Ever since the start of crisis in Ukraine, members of the G7 and the European Union have stood united in their response. To acts of aggression, we have reacted not only politically but also economically with sanctions."
They also discussed a positive agenda aimed at de-escalation with Russia and stabilising Ukraine. They welcomed the election of Petro Poroshenko as president and repeated their support for Ukraine's economic and political reforms. They expect Russia to cooperate with the newly elected President of Ukraine and to seriously pursue a political solution. They are prepared, if necessary, to intensify sanctions on Russia.
They denounced the 3 June sham presidential election in Syria and discussed the situation in the South and East China Sea, Iran, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic as well as other foreign policy issues.
Global economic, energy and climate, development challenges
On the morning of the second day, G7 leaders first discussed global growth and how to tackle high unemployment. Leaders also addressed trade issues, including the active and ambitious on-going negotiations between G7 members.
The second working session concerned climate change and energy security, with a focus on diversification of energy routes and sources. The summit endorsed the principles and actions of the Rome G7 Energy Initiative. This will ensure that citizens and businesses benefit from energy that is cleaner, safer and more secure than in the past. The issue is also related to climate change.
President Barroso said: "The less dependent we are on fossil fuels, that sometimes are in problematic areas of the world, and the more we rely on renewables and on indigenous resources, the better our security of supply will be."
Leaders repeated their commitment to limit the effects of global warming and expressed their strong commitment to the adoption of a global agreement on climate in 2015.
Finally, lunch on Thursday was dedicated to development issues and the establishment of a post-2015 international framework.
The European Union is a full member of the G7/G8 (and the G20) and is jointly represented by the European Council President and the European Commission President.
It was the first time that the EU hosted a G7/8 summit - the first time that the summit took place in Brussels at the Council of the European Union - Justus Lipsius building.
Background
It is more than 15 years since the last regular G7 summit took place and it is the first time that a G7 summit takes place in Brussels and is hosted by the European Union.
Originally a G8 summit was scheduled to take place in Sochi (Russia) in early June under a Russian presidency. Due to the Russian Federation's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the G7 leaders decided, at their meeting in The Hague (Netherlands) on 24 March 2014, to meet in Brussels on 4-5 June 2014 in the G7 format instead.
The EU as G7/G8 member
In 1977, representatives of the then European Community began participating in the London Summit. The first G7 summit was held in Rambouillet (France) two years earlier, in 1975.. Originally, the EU had a role limited to those areas in which it had exclusive competences, but the EU's role has grown over time. The European Commission was gradually included in all political discussions on the summit agenda and took part in all summit working sessions, as of the Ottawa Summit (1981). Commission President Barroso, who attended the G8 for the first time in Gleneagles in 2005, is participating for the 10th time. Council President Van Rompuy has been attending the G8/G7 since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (2009).
The Commission and the European Council have all the responsibilities of membership. The summit communiqué is politically binding on all G7 members.
The rotation of the Presidency is as follows: Germany in 2015, Japan in 2016, Italy in 2017, Canada in 2018, France in 2019, and the USA in 2020.
http://www.european-council.europa.eu/g7brussels
