Sabiedrība

Nowadays, summit meetings of world leaders are a rather mechanical process. No longer the grand and unhurried days of the congresses of Vienna and Berlin from the nineteenth century. EU heads of government meet four times a year. Recent EU presidencies have added a couple of additional meetings. Our leaders meet practically every month. It's a normal part of EU working.

This week's gathering in London of the G20 countries (US, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, the large EU economies, etc) is a bit more than standard practice. The G20 process began as meetings of finance ministers and central bankers from the world's largest economies. In response to the financial meltdown in 2008, it has been moved up a notch. Leaders met in Washington last November. There will probably be another conference after the London talks are completed.

Even as a professional diplomat, it is difficult for me to relate personally to all this frenetic summitry. Cui bono? (as those with posh educations might say). What's in it for me? is the way I prefer to see it.

We know the problem. A lot of greedy and incompetent financiers have messed up big time and in so doing led the rest of the world half way down the plug hole (or other plumbed facilities). Unless the G20 leaders can get their act together, we are destined to complete the journey to the gloomy end of the drainage pipe.

International cooperation is what we need. We can work together to tighten up regulation of hedge funds and derivative markets; clean out the tax havens that shelter the tax dodgers and drugs barons; save the world from beggar-my-neighbour protectionism; re-focus on the real global challenges such as melting ice caps and energy insecurity; create jobs for those blameless victims who have been thrown out of work.

I love being part of the globalised world community. It's full of opportunity. It rewards energy and ambition. It raises our standards of living, gives us new experiences and creates new ambitions. I envy my teenage children who will understand more about it than I ever will.

But as a result of the financial crisis, we all have been warned to be more vigilant about where we place our money and what sort of economic and social protection we have a right to expect from government. I want the global community to continue, but I want it managed effectively. I want government leaders who lead, not blame each other. Bankers who look after my money, not steal or lose it. Businessmen who create jobs and prosperity and who exercise a proper social responsibility. Employees who are fairly rewarded and who can enjoy the benefits of their hard work.

We won't wake up richer on 3 April when the G20 meeting is all over. But we might have a little more confidence that we have turned a corner and that things can start to get better.

So let's wish the G20 well and hope that together we can turn this mess around. It does matter.