The Party of European Socialists (PES) welcomes the strong and forward-looking results of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where the European Union played a decisive role in steering global cooperation on clean energy, economic resilience, and sustainable development.
Despite the boycott by the United States, the European Union ensured that the summit delivered a constructive outcome. Under the leadership of European Council President António Costa, the EU helped keep partners focused on fair, predictable and diversified supply chains that are essential for the green transition and for industrial competitiveness.
The summit underlined the importance of critical minerals for countries across all regions, be it in the Global North or the Global South. Leaders stressed that the accelerating demand for these resources is both an opportunity and a risk, given the high concentration of production and the potential use of export restrictions as a geopolitical tool. In this context, President Costa underlined that if some actors no longer “wish to be seen as reliable partners, we take not and will continue to diversify and de-risk our supply chains”, while supporting partner countries in building local value chains and creating fair, sustainable jobs.
The new Strategic Partnership between the EU and South Africa on sustainable minerals and metals value chains, signed on the margins of the summit, together with existing partnerships with several African countries, illustrates the EU’s determination to deepen a mutually beneficial Europe–Africa relationship in support of the green transition.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“At this G20, Europe showed responsibility and leadership by focusing on fair and sustainable supply chains for the green transition. António Costa played an important role in ensuring that, even in a context of geopolitical tension and boycotts, the European Union could bring partners together and deliver meaningful results. This is the kind of progressive leadership the world needs today.”
The PES reaffirms that multilateralism and strong European engagement are essential to tackling global challenges, from energy security to sustainable development.
