G8 Research Group

Representatives from the G20 Research Group were in attendance today as our colleagues at the Digital 20 Project conducted a well-attended, open-ended press briefing at the International Media Centre in Cannes, France.

The D20 panel included  Alan S. Alexandroff, director of the D20; Donald Brean, expert in finance and economics; Hugo Dobson, expert in Japanese international relations; David Shore, multilateral diplomacy expert; and, Yves Tiberghien, expert in political science.

Queries from the audience first focused on the Greek financial crisis and its impact on the G20 Summit. The crisis, it was concluded, had certainly distracted media attention from the broader summit. However, the D20 panel asserted that it has not “derailed” the summit as some have claimed. The G20 is intended to be flexible and respond to issues as they arise — the Eurozone is no exception.

Further questions followed based on food security, transaction taxes, growth and employment, the G20′s capacity to function as a consensus mechanism, and the degree of institutionalization toward which the G20 should strive. For more on the D20, see www.digital20project.ca.

As always, check back at www.g8live.org for summit coverage.