As of: 06/28/2022 6:35 p.m
Together against the great challenges of this time – that was the central message after the meeting of the G7 countries. In view of the Russian war of aggression, the West is trying to find unity.
The postcard idyll is now over. At midday, under a cloudy sky, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stepped in front of the cameras to announce the results of the three-day summit meeting at Schloss Elmau. It became clear right at the beginning of the final rally that the war in Ukraine was the central topic: “The meeting once again showed our determination to oppose Russia,” announced Scholz. The meeting also showed that the seven states are “close friends and allies”. The three agreed messages should now prove the great power of democratic alliances.
According to Scholz, the seven heads of state and government have agreed on three key results: the war in Ukraine, world hunger and the global climate crisis.
“Putin must not win this war”
Scholz emphasized the cohesion of the G7 countries against the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. “President Putin must not win this war,” said the Chancellor. The G7 countries have therefore agreed to continue to provide financial and humanitarian aid and arms to Ukraine. Germany also wants to contribute financially to the reconstruction. But this must be done in a structured way: “We need a Marshall Plan for Ukraine,” demanded the Chancellor.
However, it remained unclear how willing Germany and the other six countries are to commit themselves in the long term and how Ukraine can be supported if no NATO country sends troops to the country. This question will now be discussed in Madrid: Most of the heads of state and government made their way to Spain in the afternoon, where the NATO summit begins today.
Global alliance for food security
At the meeting at Schloss Elmau, a global alliance for food security was also forged, Scholz explained. The aim is to act together against hunger in the world. According to Scholz, the federal states want to make 4.5 billion US dollars available for this, and Germany will also participate. One of the measures against the hunger crisis is also to make grain that is currently still stored in Ukraine available.
According to Scholz, joint solutions should also be sought on the issues of energy prices, price increases and inflation. According to the host of the meeting, the road to the expansion of renewable energy will continue to be pursued with “great intensity”.
“Climate Club” with emerging and developing countries
The G7 heads of state have also agreed not to lose sight of long-term tasks. For example on the subject of climate protection. By the end of this year, an international, “open climate club” should be founded, which should also include emerging and developing countries. “Climate protection should be a competitive advantage and not a disadvantage,” said Scholz. The aim is to bring together different paths to a common goal.
With regard to all of these central topics of the summit, “we talked to each other on an equal footing with the will to cooperate with one another in the world of the future,” the Federal Chancellor continued. A world working together would be a win. “That was confirmed in the talks at every stage.”
Finally, Scholz expressly thanked the emergency services and the citizens of Krün and Garmisch-Partenkirchen for their support and understanding.
G7 opponents: Important topics only discussed “in passing”.
The G7 opponents were disappointed with the outcome of the G7 summit. Stephan Exo-Kreischer, director of the One Germany alliance, criticized the fact that the G7 states discuss the greatest challenges of our time “in passing”. “The fact that the G7 countries plan to have breakfast in 90 minutes is a bad joke. If the G7 countries continue as before, I really don’t understand why they are holding these high-security summits at all.”
And Friederike Meister, Germany Director of Global Citizen, said: “The G7 are putting a just world on the back burner – and this at a moment when the world needs courageous and progressive decisions more than ever before.” The poorest people in the world would not have time to wait. “It is a bitter disappointment that the G7, at a moment when global crises are dramatically worsening, are only announcing the status quo instead of progress,” said Meister.
Bavaria’s interior minister: “Peaceful and safe summit meeting”
“We can look back on a peaceful and safe summit meeting,” said Bavaria’s Minister of the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, in the final assessment of the police operation. The police had done an excellent job and the cooperation with the municipalities had gone very well. Herrmann also defended the strong police presence with the incident in Munich, when a few days before the start of the G7 summit, several police buses were completely destroyed by a suspected arson attack.
The interior minister suspected that the rather low participation in the protest actions and demonstrations in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen during the meeting at Schloss Elmau could also have something to do with the war in Ukraine. Overall, the goals were “fully achieved”. “The Free State of Bavaria has proven its reputation as a cosmopolitan, friendly and safe country,” says Herrmann.
Happy residents and shopkeepers
Many residents and shopkeepers also emphasized the pleasant atmosphere in town during the summit: “It was very positive to see that the police and demonstrators showed a sense of togetherness. It was quiet, it was a pleasant atmosphere,” said Eva-Maria Haug, Pharmacy owner from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The only pity was that the tourists had been missing in the last few days. She herself left her pharmacy open during the summit and did not fear any riots beforehand. “I’m relying on our police,” she said. And Elisabeth Geigl, saleswoman in the traditional costume and dirndl shop Grasegger said: “We hod’s gfoin!”
Petra Thron from the traditional Thron bakery in the center of Garmisch-Partenkirchen was also satisfied with the way the meeting at Schloss Elmau went. She always understands peaceful protests, she explained. “And as long as the politicians talk to each other, I think that’s okay,” says the saleswoman. And after a moment’s thought, she added: “It’s definitely better if you meet and talk to each other than acting like Mr. Putin.”
And what about the next meeting in seven years, when Germany will host the G7 summit again? If it were up to Petra Thron, the heads of state of the most powerful industrialized countries would be happy to meet again at Schloss Elmau in Upper Bavaria: “It has to take place somewhere. Better in a pleasant atmosphere, then the politicians will definitely be more relaxed, then the mood will be different. ”