Open letter to President Emmanuel Macron
Mr. President,
From the outset of its presidency, France expressed its desire to revamp the G7 format by organizing an open process that would "closely involve citizens." However, we were surprised to learn of France's refusal to give civil society organizations access to the summit in Biarritz and the umpteenth postponement of a consultation on the G7 in your presence, which was initially scheduled to take place in January. The new date chosen by your services coincides with the exact date of the civil society citizens' summit on the G7, which had been planned for a long time and of which the Elysée Palace had been informed.
We wish to express our grave concern about these recent developments, which undermine civil society participation in the G7 under your presidency.
We therefore request that civil society representatives be guaranteed genuine, effective access to the summit in August. Furthermore, we request that the time set aside for discussion in your presence and that of several ministers be used to ensure a genuine debate and the sharing of recommendations developed by national and international civil society.
For several years now, national and international civil society, particularly through its advocacy groups, has been mobilizing to call on G7 countries to commit to international solidarity, gender equality, and the preservation of the planet. The expertise of civil society must be recognized and heard at the highest level of government, so that the decisions taken at the G7 are not disconnected from the reality and needs of the people who are most affected.
While the French Presidency claims to be progressive, it would be unacceptable for France to renege on its commitment to an open G7, and worse, to reduce the role of civil society compared to previous presidencies. Such a step backwards would risk setting a dangerous precedent for future summits. In 2018, the Canadian Presidency granted non-governmental organizations access to the media center at its summit in Charlevoix. If France wants to ensure transparency and accountability in the decisions taken at the G7, it cannot be less ambitious than its predecessor.
Mr. President, the G7 Heads of State Summit is an opportunity for France to affirm the value it places on multilateralism, transparency, and inclusivity, at a time when some seek to undermine the very foundations of international cooperation between nations. We therefore hope that you will hear, through this appeal, the need to ensure the effective participation of civil society in the run-up to and during the Heads of State Summit next August.
Thank you in advance for considering these requests. Yours sincerely,
Signatory organizations, many of which are active members of Civil Society 7 and Women 7
Action Against Hunger
Global Health Action
Aid and Action
International Women's Alliance
Amnesty International
Association Chance et Protection Pour Toutes
Association of Women of Southern Europe
Association of University Women (AFFDU)
Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs (VENRO)
Association Olympe
AQOCI (Quebec Association of International Cooperation Organizations)
BPW FRANCE
CARE France
CCFD – Terre Solidaire
Center for Democratic Education
Club Gen Startuppeuse ESSEC
Conseil National des Femmes Françaises
Coordination Sud
Du Côté des Femmes
En avant toute(s)
Equipop
Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes
Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agir
Femmes solidaires
Greenpeace France
Humanity Diaspo
Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE)
International Center for Research on Women
INPADE / FOCO
Le Planning Familial
ONE
Oxfam France
Plan International
Plan International France
Regards de Femmes
Réseau Action Climat France
Réseau Féministe « Ruptures
Réussir l’égalité Femmes-Hommes
Save the Children
TERRAM PACIS
Theirworld
Uhuru Community Development Project
UNICEF France
WECF France
Women Included
World Vision International
