Helsinki Process calls for change amid global governance deficit
Press release 208/2005
29 June, 2005
Global governance structures are out of sync with the processes of globalization. New multi-stakeholder efforts between governments, business and civil society need to be established, that will bridge the gap between the richest and poorest nations in a forum of equality and increase the role of states from the Southern hemisphere in global economic stewardship, says the Helsinki Group in the Helsinki Process Report entitled Mobilising Political Will.
The Helsinki Process Report, a culmination of three years consultation, makes recommendations aimed at overcoming the problems of globalisation. The release of the report coincides with the forthcoming G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland and will be shared with each of the governments and delegations from the G8 nations. It is hoped that the report findings will provide useful input for discussion at the meeting and during subsequent negotiations.
The Helsinki Process was set up by the governments of Finland and Tanzania in 2002. Both of the governments were inspired by the co-leadership of Finnish and Tanzanian Presidents as they were heading ILO World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation in the same year. The Helsinki Process amalgamates the contributions of leaders from governments, business and civil society around the world, and produces workable solutions to the problems of globalisation.
The Helsinki Process took the framework of United Nations Millennium Declaration as a starting point for its work. The Helsinki Process Proposals include recommendations in poverty and development, human rights, environment, peace and security, and governance. Proposals that stress the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue include:
- G20+ to complement G8 and include more states from the South – especially Africa
- Review the Geneva Convention to make it more relevant to current realities
- Improve decision-making, negotiation procedures and transparency at the WTO
- Seek agreement on a further limitation of greenhouse gas emissions at the level of 15-30 percent by 2050 compared to the levels estimated in the Kyoto Protocol
- Create a new UN Human Rights Council
- Establish a World Environmental Organisation
- Provide better donor governance for large aid programmes that react to events such as Darfur and the Tsunami disaster
- Continue the reduction of agricultural subsidies
Mr Jakaya M. Kikwete, Foreign Minster of Tanzania and co-chair of Helsinki Group said, ”The Tanzanian and Finnish governments are taking onboard the recommendation of the Helsinki Group to continue the dialogue between stakeholders. One thing that became very clear throughout this process is that the international community does not lack solutions to problems, but capacity to implement. We hope that the stakeholders involved in this process will help to take these recommendations to wider international fora and where possible we will do what we can to facilitate this – the forthcoming Helsinki Conference, coinciding with the UN Summit, is the launch of this process. Our two governments are fully committed to continue the process in the future.”
Mr Erkki Tuomioja, Foreign Minster of Finland and co-chair of Helsinki Group said, ”This report is the culmination of nearly three years work. We as a group have constructed a set of recommendations that are unique in that they have been developed by exploring the issues of globalisation as a whole, and because of the range and quality of stakeholder input. None of these issues can be effectively tackled without taking into account the wider picture and that is what we have done.
”The G8 has a very important role in managing global issues. Tony Blair’s agenda has clearly focused thoughts on overcoming the problems of debt and poverty in Africa and on climate change, and while this report has many relevant recommendations to help overcome these problems it also provides a context of other issues that must also be addressed. The first Helsinki Process helped to bridge the gap between East and West in the 1970s and bring an end to the Cold War. The second has contributed towards bridging the divide between North and South and bringing more democracy into international relations. We aspire to achieve similarly ambitious and significant goals and are fully committed to the cause.”
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Notes to Editors
The Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy is an organisation consisting of multi-lateral stakeholders tasked with identifying novel and empowering solutions to the dilemmas of global governance, offering a forum for open and inclusive dialogue between major stakeholders. Established by the governments of Finland and Tanzania in December 2002, The Helsinki Process brings together governments, civil society and the corporate sector to develop feasible, practical and strategic policy responses to the deficits of global governance. International Governmental organizations and different Commissions, including the Commission for Africa have all contributed to the discussion manifested in the final report.
The Helsinki Conference, 7-9 September 2005 is the culmination of the Helsinki Process. It is a multi-stakeholder dialogue and networking event for addressing the challenge of making ambitious targets of the world community a reality. 400 representatives of civil society, government, the corporate sector, academia and media are invited to come together to build commitment for the implementation of needed steps towards a safer, more just and democratic world. The Conference provides opportunity for the debate and improvement of proposals made by the Helsinki Group and the Helsinki Process Tracks.
Further information: Ilari Rantakari, Ministry for Foreign Affairs/ Ambassador for the Helsinki Process, tel. +358 40 709 4245, Pauliina Arola, CMI/ General Secretary of the Helsinki Process, tel. (09) 698 7024, 040 517 2924 and Martti Antola, Ministry for Foreign Affairs/ project assistant, tel. (09) 1605 5934, 040 589 1497.