Hello and welcome, everyone!
Italy, specifically the beautiful city of Verona, extends a warm welcome to you. I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, for hosting this event. A special shoutout to all the Speakers and Presidents of the Lower Houses of the G7 nations, the President of the European Parliament – Roberta Metsola, the President of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Stefanchuk, and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union – Ackson.
While it saddens me that I cannot be there with you in person, I am honored to be part of this initiative remotely. The G7 represents a group united by shared values and principles, championing freedom and democracy. Parliamentary involvement is key, as it is where the sovereignty of the people finds its highest expression. Strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the G7 is essential, especially in these challenging times we face today.
One of the significant challenges we encounter is generative artificial intelligence, a priority for Italy’s G7 Presidency this year. During the Summit at Borgo Egnazia, Pope Francis emphasized the necessity of ethical inspiration in creating technological instruments for the well-being of every human being. As politicians, we must decide how artificial intelligence is utilized – to either solve incurable diseases or exacerbate inequalities. The responsibility falls on politics to ensure human control over artificial intelligence for the benefit of all.
Politics plays a crucial role in evaluating the impact of emerging powers like computational power on global balances. Geopolitical competition evolves with technology today more than ever, requiring governments and parliaments to navigate unchartered territories. Italy’s commitment to defending international law and coexistence between nations is steadfast, affirmed by multiple governments and parliaments.
Despite the multitude of crises we face, each crisis presents an opportunity. It is up to politics to seize these opportunities and guide international relations towards shared development. Under Italy’s G7 Presidency, strategic synergies have been established to support the development of Africa and foster cooperation with global partners for mutual progress.
As we move forward, Parliaments can and must play a pivotal role in shaping the future. Your insights and suggestions from the final declaration of this meeting will be highly valuable in our work during the Italian Presidency. Thank you all for your dedication and enjoy your time in Italy!
[Courtesy translation]
