The Italian G7 (26–27 May) takes place during momentous times for international politics. Many Heads of State and Government meeting in Taormina are new to the forum, and some of them hold radically different views. On top of that, France and the United Kingdom are in the midst of their national electoral campaigns, while Germany goes to the polls in September. Italy has approached its 2017 Presidency with realistic goals and by keeping a cool head. Even more than in the past, there is a need today for G7 leaders to come together and put their diverging views out in the open. 
The goal of this ISPI Dossier is to take stock of past progress and current diverging views between G7 members on crucial policy areas for global governance (such as trade, development, gender inclusion, and climate change). Is the G7 still relevant, and how so? Will convening leaders be able to safeguard the progress made at previous summits even in these times of tension? Will the Italian Presidency manage to reach its main goal, framed by the slogan “Building the Foundations of Renewed Trust”?