G 20: Let’s Make a Better World
If Cannes has been chosen for hosting the next G 20, thus becoming the center of the world during next November, it is because of its world-class fame, its charming beauty, its hotel capacity close to the Palais des Festivals and the Croisette that can be easily secured. But Cannes largest asset in the choice has been the Palais des Festivals and Congresses.
Engaged in a proactive approach to maintain a high level of quality service, the Palais des Festivals and Congresses has obtained at the end of 2009, a triple certification Quality (ISO 9001), Health-Safety (OHSAS 18001) and Environment (ISO 14001) called QSE, issued by the Bureau Veritas. It attests to the quality of its management system and the effectiveness of measures taken in its field of activity. This internationally recognized reference rewards the commitment of the Palais des Festivals in sustainable development and brands the reliability in the time of its processes. It thus positions Cannes as being the First European Congress Centre (and in even the northern hemisphere) triple certified, which gives it a competitive advantage to face the new challenges of the times and create new opportunities of growth.
Cannes center of the world
Countries to crunch in Cannes
From May 28 to November 5, 55 candies shaped to the colors of countries from the planet stand on the Croisette and in the streets of Cannes. For the first time in the world, 55 monumental sculptures (with a height from 2 to 5 meters) from the same artist are exhibited in a city. The city of Cannes has chosen French visual artist Laurence Jenkell to exhibit her candy-sculptures during the summer and the G20 (November 3 and 4, 2011). The candy-sculptures are colored after the flags of countries present at the G20, guest countries and European Union countries.
The G 20 YES summit in Nice will precede the B 20 and G20 in Cannes
In November 2011, if Cannes will be the center of the world when welcoming the B 20 and G 20, Nice will host the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit from October 31 to November 2 at Nice Acropolis. The importance and value of this summit that will bring together over 400 business leaders from 20 countries has been presented by M. Jean-Louis Gregoire, General Manager, G20 YES, accompanied by M. Bernard Kleynhoff, President of the CCI Nice Côte d'Azur.
The G20 YES, the entrepreneurs world meeting
The entrepreneurs' G20 (Young Entrepreneur Summit), G20 YES, the annual international summit that brings together the most emblematic businesswomen and businessmen from G20 countries took place this year in Nice from October 31 to November 2, 2011. 400 entrepreneurs from around the world have met for 4 days of work, around workshops in order to bring out and finalize key proposals designed to help young people to become "entrepreneurs of their own destiny"
G20 six days of preparation in Cannes
Here are the six last days of an hectic 3-week preparation necessary to turn the Palais des Festivals into an international place where 20 heads of state plus guests and full delegations will gather, meet, talk, sign agreements and have meals.
G20 OFFICIAL PROGRAM
Wednesday, November 2
Following the announcement by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou of the holding of a referendum on the bailout of his country, Nicolas Sarkozy had to add two new meetings on the agenda of the G20 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Consultation Meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Herman Van Rompuy, José-Manuel Barroso and Christine Lagarde on the Greek crisis and George Papandreou's referendum
7:00 p.m.: Bilateral talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Nicolas Sarkozy followed by a working dinner
8:30 p.m.: New meeting between the president, German Chancellor, representatives of the EU and the IMF. Called: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos
Thursday, November 3
10:00 a.m.: Meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama
11:20 a.m.: Meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Bill Gates, the French Presidency of the G20 commissioned a report on Financing for Development
11:35 a.m.: Meeting between Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
12:30 a.m.: Official welcome of participants by Nicolas Sarkozy
1:00 p.m.: Working lunch dedicated to the global economic situation and plan for growth and jobs
2:30 p.m.: Working session on the action plan for growth and reform the international monetary system
4:30 p.m.: Working session on development and trade
6:15 p.m.: Press briefing by Nicolas Sarkozy on the progress of the summit
7:30 p.m.: Dinner meeting on the theme of global governance
Friday, November 4
9:00 a.m.: Signing of the agreement to fight against tax evasion by G20
9:15 a.m.: Work session on financial regulation
10:30 a.m.: Working session on agriculture, energy and climate
11:45 a.m.: Working session on the fight against corruption and the social dimension of globalization
1:00 p.m.: Lunch, adoption of the final statement and presentation of the priorities of the Mexican presidency of the G20 in 2012
14:15 p.m.: Final Press Conference
B20 in Cannes: Business and civil society have to join forces
The G20 Summit in Cannes took place at Martinez Hotel on November 2 & 3 at a pivotal moment when the global economy is at a crossroads and financial and euro crises invite themselves at G20. In these challenging times, stronger, more coordinated leadership from the G20 heads of state is necessary to address both the immediate and longer-term global economic challenges.
First meetings for President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Following the announcement by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou of the holding of a referendum on the bailout of his country, Nicolas Sarkozy had to add two unforeseen new meetings on the agenda of the G20. At 5:30 p.m., Nicolas Sarkozy organized a consultation meeting with Angela Merkel, Herman Van Rompuy, José-Manuel Barroso and Christine Lagarde on the Greek crisis
Greece crisis: first statements by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy
A joint press conference was held on November 2, after the meetings on the euro crisis. Following Greece prime Minister's intention of organizing a referendum likely to be held on December 4th, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have given George Papandreou an ultimatum: accept the austerity deal or leave the eurozone. Eurozone chairman, Jean-Claude Juncker, used a similar language: "We took a decision last week as 17 member states, we can't allow anyone to disassociate himself from that decision." Nicolas Sarkozy conceded that "It is important that the Greek people have a say in making these important decisions, and Greek has to choose its future in the Eurozone.” Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have declared "We want Greece to stay in the Eurozone". They added that no more money would be given to Greece until after the referendum. Nicolas Sarkozy ended by stating: "the problem of Europe is not an excess of leadership, it is rather a lack of leadership."
G20 opening: Nicolas Sarkozy first meetings of the day
French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the inhabitants of Cannes, gathered for the popular welcome to the G20 delegations, welcomed President Barack Obama, who came for bilateral discussions. In the morning, another meeting took place between heads of delegation members of the Eurozone and of the G20 and mr Sarkozy has been meeting with Bill Gates, co-president of the “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”. The bilateral meeting with Manmohan Singh, PM of India has been postponed to the evening.
Nicolas Sarkozy welcomes G20 official delegations
Cannes inhabitants were invited on the opening morning to welcome the G20 delegations. Mr Sarkozy came to say hello to inhabitants and press. All the delegations motorcade paraded in front of the Espace Riviera at Cannes Palais des Festivals to deliver their precious cargo of head of states to the applause of the public. Mr Sarkozy had displayed the Garde Républicaine to magnify the welcoming ceremony.
Cannes Journalism School students follow the G20 minute by minute
For the G20, students from the Cannes IUT School of Journalism were able to obtain four accreditations for the only journalism school present at G20. The Cannes IUT School of Journalism exists since ten years, it was created by Jacques Araszkiewiez, teacher and researcher Geoffrey Soutrelle, former reporters who still teach at the IUT. The school is divided into two years of DUT Information and Communication Journalism option (there are 3 of them in France) and one year of professional audiovisual license. About 70 students take courses with professors and professionals, learning the basics of journalism both theoretical and practical. Students cover various events: the Cannes Film Festival, MIPTV, Cannes Meetings, Film Meetings of Cannes and especially the Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival as being part of the Festival. The students work in all media. Having not yet a radio (a web radio is a being created) or television, and having no means of printing, the students work on the web. On the first day of G20 they had 500 visits on their blog http://cannesg20.wordpress.com, which is great for beginning journalists. They have two cameras to realize TV reports, they write articles for written press or make slide shows. Without access to pools photographers, they still managed to access the arrival of heads of state for the meeting on Greece. In the rush as all the present journalists, they take the opportunity to talk to journalists, making contacts for their future careers. News from the journalist students are to follow on the blog:
President Obama and President Sarkozy joint press conference
President Obama recalled the strong bonds between the two countries: "France is not only one of our oldest allies, but one of our closest allies and Nicolas Sarkozy, for me, is a key partner on the world stage. " He further stated that most of the discussions had focused on the global economic recovery to create jobs and stabilize financial markets: "The most important aspect of our work on the next two days is how to resolve the financial crisis here in Europe. President Sarkozy has shown impressive leadership on this issue and I agree with him that the EU has moved towards a global solution." President Obama announced that the U.S. will work with the Europeans to overcome these difficulties and the thistle with Greece. Other serious issues, including security, were discussed in particular the threat posed by Iran's progress on nuclear power, IAEA to publish a new report on Iran's program next week. Obama said on this subject: "President Sarkozy and I agree on the fact that we must maintain this unprecedented international pressure, for Iran to meet its commitments. And tomorrow, Nicolas Sarkozy and myself, we will review troops to remember the importance of the alliance that goes from Yorktown to Libya. "
President Sarkozy welcomed the support, the solidarity of the United States of America and the common understanding on how to put the world in a strategy of growth and stability: "We are trying together, President Obama and myself to build the unity of the G20. I want to salute the understanding of the United States on all issues that we discuss for 48 hours, including the subjects of the Greek crisis, the difficulties of euro and the need for solidarity with the United States, the drafting of the final communique, where I want to pay tribute to the understanding of President Obama, including on issues such as taxation of financial activities, where we compared our views and, I believe, found a common analysis to help the world of finance to the resolution of the crisis today. "
Nicolas Sarkozy also rejoiced that the U.S. President was staying a few hours after the summit for bilateral talks to honor the U.S. Army and the French army and to participate with him in a TV common show: "Because here in France, the French love the United States and greatly appreciate President Obama." President Sarkozy has given excuse of an extremely busy agenda and set appointment for further details on the taken decisions.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s first press conference: euro is at the heart of Europe
President Sarkozy said the G20 had worked hard on the economic situation in a serious atmosphere due to fears of a slowdown in growth that would affect the whole world: in front of this fear, all members of the G20 shown a desire to better coordinate economic policies" and "countries with a surplus balance of payments need to consume more. So far, much of the discussion focused on the euro area...
Abbey of Lerins wines reach a summit at G20
In the heart of the Lerins Islands, in front of Cannes, on the Saint-Honorat Island, the Abbaye de Lerins monks grow vines and produce very famous wines (red and white). The Abbey of Lerins products enjoy a strong reputation thanks to the monastic tradition of liqueur perpetrated by the monks, and more recently through the development of red and white wines of great quality, recognized by prestigious professionals tables. On about 8 hectares, the vineyards are planted half with Chardonnay and Clairette for white wines and Syrah and Mourvedre for red wines. A recent planting of Pinot Noir has produced an exceptional vintage whose very limited production is sold on reservations. As part of the G20 in Cannes, the monks of the monastery of Saint-Honorat Island had the great honor and privilege to be able to have the products of their vineyard being enjoyed. At lunches on November 3 and 4, the vintage St. Césaire and Saint Solanius were served to 26 heads of state. Father Marie-Paques met the international media at the press center on Thursday, November 3, to introduce the Abbey of Lerins great wines and promote them with passion.
Franco-American ceremony after the G20 Summit
At the end of the G20 summit, on Friday, November 4, 2011, the french President of the Republic participated with the U.S. President Barack Obama in a ceremony to commemorate the length and depth of friendship between France and the United States, and to acknowledge the work of French and American military who took part in operations in Libya. The ceremony was held at the War Memorial near the Cannes town hall.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s final address
President Sarkozy said the G20 had worked hard on the economic situation in a serious atmosphere due to fears of a slowdown in growth that would affect the whole world: in front of this fear, all members of the G20 shown a desire to better coordinate economic policies" and "countries with a surplus balance of payments need to consume more. So far, much of the discussion focused on the euro area...
Barack Obama: two days of very substantive discussions
After having thanked, the President Sarkozy for his leadership and hospitality, American President Barak Obama thanked the people of Cannes for "this extraordinary setting". Since recovery has been fragile, despite efforts to rescue the global economy, the heads of state of the G20 came to Cannes with no illusions: "Emerging economies have started to slow. Global demand is weakening. Around the world, hundreds of millions of people are unemployed, or underemployed..."