Presidents von der Leyen and Michel present the EU priorities for the G20 Leaders’ Summit

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council, Charles Michel, presented the EU priorities for the G20 virtual Leaders’ Summit in a press conference today. Jointly, they represent the EU at the summit this weekend, on 21 and 22 November. In a world disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the EU is sparing no effort to tackle the far-reaching consequences of this crisis and therefore calls for continued investment in research and deployment of a future vaccine and therapeutics, while ensuring their affordable and equitable access for all people globally. The ACT-Accelerator and its COVAX Facility are our main tools to do so. The EU will call on G20 Leaders to respond to their immediate financing needs, providing $4.5 billion before the end of the year. The EU is also focused on supporting European economies, as well as developing and low-income countries, backing the extension of the debt suspension until mid-2021 with the possibility of an additional 6-month extension thereafter. Turning challenges into an opportunity to build back better, the EU will promote at the G20 a recovery based on green, inclusive, sustainable, resilient and digital growth by implementing the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. The Summit will also be an occasion to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the rules-based international order and free and fair trade. Finally, the EU will advocate for gender equality and decent work conditions for all, including within global supply chains, and continued efforts to eradicate child labour, forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery. The press conference is available on EbS. President von der Leyen‘s remarks will be available here. More information on the EU priorities can be found in this factsheet, with translations available.