Today, French Minister for Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure, convened via videoconference the first G7 Finance Ministers’ meeting under the French G7 Presidency to present the priorities of the French G7 Presidency on economic and financial issues, review the latest developments regarding Ukraine, and discuss current international tensions. This session included ministers from Germany, Canada, the United States, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga also joined the meeting.
During this first exchange between G7 Finance Ministers under France’s G7 Presidency, Minister Roland Lescure highlighted France’s priorities in the Finance Track: reducing global macroeconomic imbalances, renewing international partnerships with developing countries, and supporting stable and sustainable growth.
Economic security, resilience and supply chain diversification, particularly for critical minerals and rare earths, are essential for the growth and sovereignty of our economies. These issues will be a priority of the French Presidency. Support for Ukraine, which continues to face Russia’s brutal and illegal aggression, will also remain a G7 priority this year.
In his discussions with G7 counterparts, Minister Roland Lescure emphasized the importance of prioritizing dialogue and collective solutions over unilateral measures to address current international tensions. He stressed that the collective interest lies in cooperation and dialogue rather than fragmentation. He underscored the need to maintain relationships based on trust and respect for shared principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The French G7 Presidency will continue these discussions in the coming weeks to find concrete solutions to global imbalances and lay the foundations for stable and sustainable growth.