Boosted by EU elections, Meloni prepares to host G7

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 12 - Boosted by the stunning showing of her right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party in last week's European elections, Premier Giorgia Meloni is preparing to host the 2024 G7 summit, which takes place at the Puglia resort of Borgo Egnazia from Thursday until Saturday.
    Meloni said Monday that "Italy can present itself at the G7 and in Europe with the strongest government of all" after FdI won almost 29% of the vote here in the European elections, even more than the 26% it won in the 2022 general election that thrust her to power.
    The G7 leaders are expected to announce an agreement on the use of the profits from Russia assets frozen in the West following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine to set up a 50-billion-euro fund for Kyiv.
    Washington has been pushing hard for this, but European nations have been more prudent due to technical issues regarding the legal implications of such a move.
    The crisis in the Middle East will be a key area of focus too.
    The Italian duty presidency of the G7 is also making sure there is great attention to the issues of migration and relations with developing nations, especially engagement with African States, for a cooperation model based on mutually beneficial partnerships, rather than the paternalistic or predatory approaches of the past.
    Artificial Intelligence is on the agenda as well.
    Indeed, Pope Francis will attend the summit on Friday, becoming the first pontiff to take part in a G7, and is set to talk about the need for ethical AI, as well as about efforts to bring about peace. (ANSA).