The leaders of the G7 in Evian are setting the strategy of the West for wars, the economy, energy security and the technological race.
On the shores of Lake Geneva, Evian is once again becoming a focal point of international diplomacy, as G7 leaders attempt to formulate a common response to the major geopolitical and economic upheavals of our time. Under the French presidency of Emmanuel Macron, the summit brings together the world’s leading industrial powers and the European Union, with the agenda determined by the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, relations with China, energy security, and the global battle for technological supremacy. The heads of the European institutions, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, presented Brussels’ key priorities, seeking to strengthen Europe’s role as an autonomous geopolitical actor, while also sending a message of closer cooperation with international partners in the face of the challenges that are redefining the international order.
In the French spa town of Evian, on the shores of Lake Geneva, the annual G7 Summit began, under the French presidency of Emmanuel Macron. The meeting, which runs through Wednesday, is attended by the leaders of the world’s seven most industrially developed nations, as well as the European Union, which is represented by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. According to Ertnews.gr, on the sidelines of the proceedings, the two heads of the European institutions held a joint press conference, analyzing the issues to be addressed at the summit and the European positions on each of them.
“Historic step” toward Ukraine’s accession to the EU
Mr. Costa emphasized that the Union is working in close cooperation with partners around the world, welcoming the decision to expand the summit’s discussions to include leaders from India, Brazil, South Korea, Kenya, and Egypt—countries that had also contributed to the preparatory work. He presented the EU’s network of trade agreements, which currently covers 84 countries, as a tool for promoting multilateral cooperation, referring also to the Commission’s Global Gateway initiative as a model for transitioning from a “donor-recipient” logic to equal, mutually beneficial partnerships.
The dominant security issue at the summit is the war in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participating in the relevant discussions. Mr. Costa noted that the conflict has now lasted longer than World War I and that G7 countries can contribute to achieving a just and lasting peace. He also announced that the EU is taking a “historic step” today with the official launch of talks on the first chapter of accession negotiations with Ukraine, recognizing the reforms the country has carried out under extremely adverse conditions.
Costa and von der Leyen set the European tone at the G7
Ms. von der Leyen pointed out that, compared to the previous G7 summit in Kananaskis, Ukraine’s position has changed significantly, as Ukrainian forces are holding the front line and retaking territory. As she noted, Ukraine has developed the capability to strike strategic targets within Russia and has become a major producer of modern defense equipment. In contrast, he said, the Russian war economy is under suffocating pressure from sanctions.
He noted that the €90 billion loan secured by the Union covers two-thirds of Kyiv’s financing needs for this year and next, with the first disbursements expected within the month, and called on the remaining international partners to cover the remaining one-third. It also announced a European contribution of €75 million in grants for the new safe “containment shelter” in Chernobyl, as part of preparations for the coming winter in cooperation with Canada.
Middle East and Iran: “the priority is implementation”
Both leaders welcomed the agreement announced between Washington and Tehran, expressing the hope that it will put an end to a costly war and lead to the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz, restoring free navigation. Mr. Costa emphasized that this development opens up prospects for the restoration of Lebanon’s full sovereignty, while the Union is ready to contribute to the formation of a broader framework for lasting peace in the region. He did not fail, however, to point out that this development should not cause us to forget the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the deep concern regarding the illegal occupation of the West Bank, with the two-state solution remaining, in his view, the only path to a just and lasting peace.
Ms. von der Leyen, for her part, identified the implementation of the U.S.-Iran agreement as a priority, with the aim of opening broader talks that would lead to the curtailment of Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. She also emphasized that there can be no lasting peace as long as Lebanon is “in flames,” calling for a genuine ceasefire and full respect for its sovereignty. The Committee Chair noted that the crisis has confirmed, once again, the exploitation of Europe’s energy dependence, making it necessary to reduce dependence on transit through the Strait by utilizing alternative transport routes (such as the IMEC corridor) that offer greater resilience and options.
Economic imbalances, China, and critical raw materials
At the center of the economic discussion are global imbalances and the excess production capacity of certain economies, an issue on which Ms. von der Leyen expressed satisfaction with the personal emphasis placed on it by French President Emmanuel Macron. The data presented is revealing: 2025 was the first year in which all EU member states without exception recorded a trade deficit with China, with the Union’s total deficit reaching a historic high of 360 billion euros.
It reiterated the well-known strategy of “de-risking, not decoupling” (de-risking, not decoupling), which calls for accelerating the development of domestic production capacity, alongside the expansion of the network of free trade agreements to diversify supply chains, as well as strengthening the defense toolkit against unfair practices, ranging from safeguard measures to countervailing duties and measures against coercive practices.
Special mention was made of critical raw materials, where, as the Commission President emphasized, the concentration of global production capacity in China has already created a problem for the European economy, recalling the export restrictions imposed last fall. The European Union is pursuing a three-pronged strategy: dialogue with Beijing to change its behavior, development of European domestic capacity, and the conclusion of agreements with reliable partners, so that the value of raw material processing remains in the producing countries, through tools such as the Global Gateway and free trade agreements.
Artificial intelligence, technological sovereignty, and the protection of minors
The G7 is also expected to discuss the issue of artificial intelligence in depth. Ms. von der Leyen referred to the need to verify the safety of cutting-edge models before they are placed on the market (similar to what already applies to aircraft and medical devices) through cooperation among independent assessment authorities in G7 countries. At the same time, he emphasized that the recently presented European “technology sovereignty package” aims to strengthen European infrastructure, including through artificial intelligence (AI) “gigafactories,” so that European startups can train and test their models within the EU, without, however, seeking isolation from Europe’s trusted partners.
In the same context, Mr. Costa referred to the protection of children and adolescents online, an issue raised by the French president that will be discussed with executives from major tech companies. Ms. von der Leyen, commenting on the issue, noted that the question is not whether young people should have access to social media, but whether social media should have access to children and when, emphasizing that childhood and adolescence are critical years for brain and personality development. She also called on platforms to prove that they are “safe by design.”
Sanctions on Iran
Ms. von der Leyen was asked to respond to the possibility of lifting European sanctions against Iran following the agreement with the U.S., and explained that the EU’s sanctions regime addresses two key issues: human rights violations and weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, their lifting requires a credible and verifiable change in behavior, as, she said, the purpose of the sanctions is precisely to bring about such a change.
As Ms. von der Leyen noted, the conclusions of the G7 Summit in Evian are expected to inform the discussion that will follow at the end of the week at the European Council meeting in Brussels.
