France: Tusk hopes 'common solutions' will trump 'senseless disputes' at G7

M/S European Council President, Donald Tusk arriving to press conference, Biarritz
SOT, Donald Tusk, European Council President: "This is another G7 Summit which will be a difficult test of unity and solidarity with the free world and its leaders. There is no certainty whether the group will be able to find common solutions and the global challenges today are very serious or whether it'll focus on senseless disputes among each other". *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
C/U Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Tusk, European Council President: "Today will be especially urgent and essential to build our unity among the following challenges. First, the defence of liberal democracy, the rule of law and human rights. In particular in the context of the revival of nationalism and new forms of authoritariansim as well as threats coming from the development of digital technologies meddling in elections, fake news, using artificial intelligence against citizens and their freedoms".
C/U Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Tusk, European Council President: "Second: The climate crisis and the protection of natural environment including forests and oceans. The burning Amazon rainforest has become another depressing sign of our times. We of course stand by our EU-Mercosur agreement, which is also about protecting the climate and environment, but it is hard to imagine a harmonious process of ratification by the European countries as long as the Brazilian government allows the destruction of the green lungs of planet Earth."
W/S Journalists rasing hands *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Donald Tusk, European Council President: "Three, putting a stop to trade wars. Trade deals and the reform of WTO are better than trade wars. Trade wars will lead to recessions while trade deals will boost the economy, not to mention the fact that trade wars among G7 members will lead to eroding the already weakened trust among us."
W/S Journalists raising hands
C/U Journalist
SOT, Donald Tusk, European Council President: "I can only guess what's the real intention of the main actors of this conflict. I can agree with some politicians and commentators that of course China is the biggest challenge for all of us for many reasons. At the same time what we need and I am talking about the global context of what we need is rather cooperation than conflict, for me that's absolutely clear that if someone for example the United States, President Trump, uses tariffs and taxation as a political instrument, tool for some different political reasons, it means that this confrontation can be really risky for the whole world including the EU. This is why we need G7 and this is why we need a really frank and open discussion about the intentions and I hope we will be wiser after our meeting here in Biarritz." *MULTIPLE SHOTS AT SOURCE*
C/U Journalist
C/U Tusk leaving press conference
M/S Tusk leaving press conference
SCRIPT
The European Council President Donald Tusk addressed the press ahead of the G7 Summit in Biarritz on Saturday, stating how 'urgent' and 'essential' is was to build unity among its members on key issues such as the climate crisis and trade wars.
Tusk highlighted that the defence of liberal democracy, the rule of law and human rights was a key issue before moving to the topic of recent fires in the Amazon. The European Council president said he would stand by the free trade agreement signed by the EU and Mercosur earlier this year, but since the agreement includes environmental protection clauses, the ratification process of EU members would not be harmonious if they do not obey in taking care of the Amazon.
Another topic addressed in the press conference was the need to end trade wars, especially the ongoing tug-of-war between the United States and China, which could put all countries in a risky situation.
"For me that's absolutely clear that if someone for example the United States, President Trump, uses tariffs and taxation as a political instrument, tool for some different political reasons, it means that this confrontation can be really risky for the whole world including the EU," Tusk stated.
The G7 summit is taking place in Biarritz on August 24-26 and gathers the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, alongside EU counterparts.