The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the Balkan countries, not only on the region's already fragile socio-economic systems but also on their precarious geopolitical balance framed between Europe and the East. Although the EU remains the main partner and aid supplier of the Western Balkans during the pandemic, the last two years have proven integration in the region to lose momentum, leaving the field open to other superpowers such as China and Russia, as the so-called vaccine diplomacy has showed.
What can the G20 do for the future of PEOPLE, PLANET and PROSPERITY after the pandemic? How to fight climate change and grant food and water security while ensuring a sustainable recovery? How to build a more inclusive and fair society? How to support a digital transition which leaves no one behind?
The Future is Now: People, Planet, Prosperity
The pandemic has rapidly accelerated the role played by digitalisation in our society and highlighted the inequalities associated with it. Rethinking professional workplaces, the education system, and our relationship with technology has become an urgent priority. However, international disputes over internet and data governance are scaling back the potential of digital transformation, fuelling ethical and security issues.
Key Topics
The Future is Now: People, Planet, Prosperity
Though we are still amidst a serious health and economic crisis, governments and societies must look onwards in order to lay the foundations of a new welfare system and explore feasible ways ahead to keep growing in a fair, sustainable and inclusive manner, both at domestic and international level. Having a cohesive social infrastructure network in place is a precondition for both rich and developing countries to achieve equitable and durable growth.
The Future is Now: People, Planet, Prosperity
This virtual event, held under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, will feature discussions on the US-Italian partnership and opportunities for future cooperation in the political, economic, and scientific field. The event will be followed by an exclusive virtual performance by the National Symphony Orchestra at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, featuring world-renowned Italian conductor, Maestro Gianandrea Noseda.
Yemen’s latest escalation is deteriorating the situation on the ground and putting a strain on the “renewed international momentum” recently announced by the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths. Over the last weeks, the Houthis launched an offensive to seize the strategic town of Marib, while, on the external front, several Saudi oil and military facilities were targeted. Besides Riyadh’s prompt response, the current escalation risks undermine Biden’s diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the country.