Press Statement by The Global Governance Group (3G) on the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, 15 to 16 November 2014

1        The Global Governance Group (3G)^[[1]] looks forward to a constructive outcome from the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) Summit, which will be held in Brisbane, Australia, from 15 to 16 November 2014.  The 3G commends the efforts of the G20 in addressing the global growth challenge, and towards building strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth and establishing a more robust and resilient economy for all.  While the global economy is recovering, growth continues to be weak and uneven.  Continued decisive action at the highest levels is required to help stimulate growth, undertake the necessary structural reforms, and to create better jobs and promote labour force participation. The 3G urges the G20 to discuss, agree upon and implement concrete and practical measures to meet these challenges.

2        The 3G welcomes the commitment by the G20 to develop ambitious but realistic policies with the aim of lifting the collective GDP of the G20 by more than 2 per cent by 2018 above the trajectory implied by current policies.  If realised, this will translate to a boost of some US$2 trillion to global GDP.  The 3G is convinced that robust economic growth is necessary to deliver higher living standards and quality jobs for all.  We therefore look forward to the successful conclusion and effective implementation of the Brisbane Action Plan, which will put in place short and medium-term actions to help achieve this goal.

3        The 3G supports the G20’s efforts to focus on key areas such as preventing structural unemployment, creating better jobs and boosting participation.  The 3G believes that addressing these priorities decisively would be critical towards meeting the G20 leaders’ commitments of achieving strong, sustainable and balanced growth, poverty reduction and social cohesion.  The 3G notes the central role of good economic growth in sustainable jobs creation and highlights the need for job strategies that focus on increasing the employment impact of growth and the creation of good jobs.  The 3G encourages the G20 to continue to leverage on the expertise of the International Labour Organisation and other relevant regional and international organisations in policy formulation and implementation.

4        The 3G commends the G20’s continued efforts to advance work on development, which remains a key element of the G20’s longer term agenda, and looks forward to further progress in this regard at the Brisbane Summit.  Issues such as food security and nutrition, infrastructure development, improving connectivity, human resource development, employment and financial inclusion are critical towards facilitating the development of middle and low-income countries.  We welcome the efforts taken by the G20 to boost investment in quality infrastructure, including through the Global Infrastructure Initiative, a multi-year work programme to lift public and private infrastructure investment. 

5        The Brisbane Summit will take place at a time where the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is fast approaching.  In this regard, a new global development framework post-2015 needs to be elaborated. The 3G emphasises the need for all countries to be fully involved in the development of this framework at the United Nations (UN).  The 3G looks to the G20 to make important contributions to meet the challenges of sustainable development, while respecting the central role of the UN and the mandates of its agencies.  Discussions on the new global framework will need to be drawn together into a single intergovernmental process at the UN – the only global body with universal membership and unquestioned legitimacy – which should make final decisions on its shape. 

6        It is the view of the 3G that the post-2015 development agenda should focus on poverty eradication and sustainable development, with a clear set of goals in order to facilitate practical implementation and consistent monitoring.  The 3G welcomes the G20’s support for strong post-2015 development outcomes by factoring development considerations into its work on global policy issues.

7        In this context, the 3G urges the G-20 to participate fully in the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Also, the 3G recognizes that the G-20 can play a critical role in fulfilling the commitments related to official development assistance, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 percent of gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries by 2015, as well as a target of 0.15 to 0.20 percent of gross national product for official development assistance to the least developed countries.  

8        To restore global growth, an open, rules-based multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is essential.  The 3G highlights the important role of the G20 in pushing for the comprehensive implementation of the Bali Package in accordance with the Ministerial decision taken at the 9^th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali as soon as possible. The G20 should take leadership in the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement given its potential impact on trade and growth. The 3G remains concerned that the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) has yet to reach a successful conclusion, and urges the G20 to renew its political commitment to move the DDA process forward.  The G20 should continue to hold firm to its commitment to open trade and investment, reduce barriers to trade and resist protectionism in all forms.

9        Resilience of the global economy as well as national economies is crucial in sustaining the progress made in economic growth, development and employment generation. The 3G therefore welcomes the G20’s focus on building global economic resilience.

10        The 3G appreciates Australia’s efforts to build on practices by previous G20 Presidencies in strengthening the G20’s engagement of the UN, relevant regional organizations and non-G20 countries, including the 3G.  The 3G would like to make reference to the two papers on labour as well as development and governance that it had submitted to the G20 this year.  The 3G welcomes Australia’s invitation to the UN Secretary-General to attend and participate actively the Brisbane Summit, and highlights the importance of maintaining this practice.  The 3G supports efforts to ensure that non-G20 representatives are included in the G20 process in application of the principle of “variable geometry”.  The 3G hopes that Turkey, as the next G20 President, will continue and strengthen past efforts to increase the inclusiveness and transparency of the G20, and welcomes the opportunity to engage Turkey constructively in that regard.  The 3G looks forward to Australia updating the UN membership on the outcomes of the Brisbane Summit. 

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12 November 2014

^[1] The 3G comprises the following Member States of the United Nations: Bahamas, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, the Republic of Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kuwait, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Principality of Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Republic of the Philippines, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.