Acta Francisci Pp. 1029

NUNTII

I

Ad Principem Ministrum Australiae, occasione Congressionis Civitatum Po- tentiorum quoad rem Oeconomicam v. « G20 ».

To the Honourable Tony Abbott

Prime Minister of Australia

On 15 and 16 November next in Brisbane you will chair the Summit of

Heads of State and Government of the world's twenty largest economies, thus

bringing to a close Australia's presidency of the Group over the past year.

This presidency has proved to be an excellent opportunity for everyone to

appreciate Oceania's significant contributions to the management of world

affairs and its efforts to promote the constructive integration of all countries.

The G20 agenda in Brisbane is highly focused on efforts to relaunch a

sustained and sustainable growth of the world economy, thereby banishing

the spectre of global recession. One crucial point that has emerged from

the preparatory work is the fundamental imperative of creating dignified

and stable employment for all. This will call for improvement in the quality

of public spending and investment, the promotion of private investment,

a fair and adequate system of taxation, concerted efforts to combat tax

evasion and a regulation of the financial sector which ensures honesty,

security and transparency.

I would ask the G20 Heads of State and Government not to forget that

many lives are at stake behind these political and technical discussions, and

it would indeed be regrettable if such discussions were to remain purely

on the level of declarations of principle. Throughout the world, the G20

countries included, there are far too many women and men suffering from

severe malnutrition, a rise in the number of the unemployed, an extremely

high percentage of young people without work and an increase in social

exclusion which can lead to criminal activity and even the recruitment of

terrorists. In addition, there are constant assaults on the natural envi-

ronment, the result of unbridled consumerism, and this will have serious

consequences for the world economy.