Denise Gregory is executive director of the Centro Brasileiro de Relacoes Internacionais (CEBRI).
Public Engagement
The wider agenda seems to engage broader public interest. However, there was much less interest in the Brazilian press about the L´Aquila Summit than in the London G20 April Summit. On the other hand, compared with last year's Summit in Japan, this one showed greater relevance. The final balance seems to have been very positive.
Brazilian press coverage was almost exclusively centred on climate change discussions. It was regretted that an agreement on targets for reducing emissions had not been reached, although intermediate commitments had been the object of a compromise. The press pointed out the differences between the G8 and the G5 on the issue. Some experts criticized the Brazilian alliance with China and India. It was said, for example, that "Brazil is on the wrong side about climate change."
There were also references in the press to the setting of a deadline for concluding the Doha Round, but this was viewed with skepticism, since such a commitment had been repeatedly made at every Summit, with no practical results.
Public Focus
The sequence of groupings of countries attending the three different days of the Italian G8 Summit creates some confusion in the public perception about the locus of global leadership. However, there is also the perception that arrangements evolve by their nature and are a living process. They should be flexible in order to bring together countries that would most effectively contribute to the particular subject under consideration. The format and composition of the group should change according to the nature of the addressed problem.
G8 Relevance
President Lula stressed that rich countries realize that global problems/tensions call for a collective and coordinated action, with Brazil and other emerging economies playing a central role in the decision-making process. He referred to Sarkozy's, Obama´s, and Berlusconi´s statements during the Summit calling for a G8 enlargement to incorporate the emerging countries (a G14). The perception that G5 has a stronger voice now is very important, although President Lula prefers to strengthen and consolidate G20 as the centre for deliberations on economic and financial issues.
The G20 has been transformed into a high-level forum with heads of state and government replacing G8 and being perceived as capable of guiding the necessary reforms in multilateral organizations in order to avoid future crisis.
Global Leadership
There is a growing perception on the importance of Brazil as an active actor in all relevant questions that were discussed in the Summit. Bilateral talks with President Obama and his request to Lula to mediate talks with Iran attracted much attention from the press. Brazilian media and television highlighted the leadership of Obama and his good relations with Lula. The front page photo in the FT and in some Brazilian newspapers of Lula and Obama wearing the shirt of the Brazilian soccer team has a symbolic value. Obama was recognized by his active and progressive positions on climate, trade and aid to African development.
With regard to the economic crisis, in Lula´s perception his colleagues were optimist. The worst of the crisis is over and recovery of the world economy in 2010 is feasible.
The meeting was seen as useful for preparing the next G20 meeting and all hopes are posted in it. The same rationale applies to the Climate Conference in December.