Talking shop

There is a great deal for the G8 leaders to discuss. Expectations are, as usual, too high, but progress is still possible. On the campus of the military school in L’Aquila, the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has one evident hope for the G8. In the ruins of a once monumental city in central Italy that was devastated in April by an earthquake, Mr Berlusconi will take the other 12 leaders — the rest of the G8 plus the invited G5 who will sit in the cheap seats — on a tour of the city in the hope that he can raise some funds for rebuilding. It is tempting to say that donations to the heritage appeal of L’Aquila is about as much as can be expected from this gathering of the G8. Of the leaders due to be present, only presidents Obama and Sarkozy can be sure of their immediate domestic future. Neither China nor India will be represented in the full delegation. Real decision-making power, it could be said, has shifted upwards from the G8, via the G13, to the G20. The G8 has no secretariat, no permanent staff and no ability to enforce its conclusions. It is a talking shop, nothing more. It is true that the agenda of each successive G8 summit is too broad and too ambitious. It is impossible to make meaningful progress on the environment, a sustainable economy, the digital divide, organised and transnational crime, terrorism, drug and human-trafficking, pandemics and food security, trade policy and global economic revival in two days. The British Prime Minister has added to the weight of expectation with his pre-G8 briefing that he is hoping for, in essence, a repeat of the G20 and the financial package that resulted. The greater imperative is that the hopes aired at the G20, on the regulation and oversight of international finance, on curbing speculation, on tax havens and money laundering have to be implemented. Continue ... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6662341.ece