G7 leaders address migration issue on second summit day

Leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations shifted their focus to migration on the second day of their summit Friday. They are exploring ways to combat trafficking and increase investment in countries where migrants originate from, embarking on perilous journeys.

The summit, held in a luxury resort in Italy’s southern Puglia region, also addresses important topics like financial support for Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, artificial intelligence, climate change, and China’s industrial policy and economic security. However, disagreement has arisen over the wording of the summit’s final declaration, particularly regarding the inclusion of a reference to abortion.

Migration is a key concern for Italy, the host country, as it serves as a major entry point into the European Union for migrants fleeing war and poverty in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, known for her tough stance on migration, is pushing for increased investment in African nations to alleviate migratory pressures on Europe.

Italy’s efforts include a contentious deal with Albania to host asylum-seekers while their claims are processed in Italy and the “Mattei Plan” for Africa, aimed at boosting economic opportunities to discourage migration to Europe.

The United States is also grappling with a surge in migrants at its southern border. President Joe Biden has introduced new policies to tackle migration following the failure of a migration bill in Congress.

However, the new policies have faced legal challenges in the U.S., with immigrant rights advocates filing lawsuits in response.

European Council President Charles Michel highlighted that addressing migration is a shared challenge and emphasized the need for a coalition to combat smugglers and criminal groups exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit.

Besides the G7 nations, the Italian hosts have invited African leaders like Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Tunisian President Kais Saied to support Meloni’s migration and development initiatives.

The summit will feature Pope Francis as the first pontiff to address a G7 summit, focusing on artificial intelligence. Other attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Biden also signed a security agreement with Zelenskyy to signal U.S. support for Ukraine. The summit has seen some discord among leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing disappointment over the exclusion of references to abortion in the final document.

While last year’s summit expressed a commitment to provide safe and legal abortion, this year’s final statement only includes a mention of promoting sexual and reproductive health rights.

Meloni has faced criticism for her stance on abortion, despite denying any rollback of abortion rights in Italy. The G7 reaffirmed its commitment to universal access to health services for women, including the right to reproductive health.