M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr Badr Abdelatty, on 23 November 2025, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
During the discussion, the two ministers reiterated their determination to contribute fully to (…)
The G20, or “Group of 20”, is an intergovernmental forum bringing together 19 of the countries with the most developed economies, the European Union and the African Union. This group aims to develop tangible cooperation programmes and contribute to global governance, especially its economic aspects. It is a forum where France and its European partners can make their voices heard regarding global issues and the governance of globalization.
What is the purpose of the G20?}}}
Initially formed at the level of finance ministers at the instigation of Canada in 1999, the G20 met for the first time at the level of Heads of State and Government in 2008 amid the global financial crisis. In 2022, G20 members [1] accounted for 75% of the world’s trade, 80% of global GDP and greenhouse gas emissions and two-thirds of the global population, making it the leading global economic forum.
With the regular support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the G20 has gradually expanded its discussions beyond economic and financial matters to incorporate a growing number of themes, such as the climate and energy, the digital economy, development, economic empowerment of women, health, agriculture and education. These issues are traditionally the subject of ministerial meetings, whose conclusions feed into the annual Summits of Heads of State and Government.
The G20 has gradually become the main multilateral forum for addressing crises and coordinating action on global issues. It has had several major achievements:
The G20 has a rotating Presidency, with the members taking turns to hold it. Each G20 Presidency organizes a number of events, ranging from expert meetings to ministerial meetings, as well as events including civil society.
The group’s Heads of State and Government meet annually with a view to ensuring the coordination of the biggest economies in the face of economic, social, environmental and other issues. The annual Summit of Heads of State and Government is the highlight of the G20.
Functioning and interministerial coordination of France’s positions
The Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the Republic is traditionally the “G7 and G20 Sherpa”. As such, they take part in the meetings of the Sherpas, the political advisers of Heads of State and Government, whose role is to prepare the summit (final declaration and political deliverables). Within the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Director-General for Global Affairs and Cultural and Economic Diplomacy acts as Sous-Sherpa. The G7/G20, OECD and International Summits Department, under the authority of the Director-General, is responsible for preparing the Sherpas’ meetings and summits within the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
In 2026, the US is holding the G20 Presidency for the third time, after 2008 and 2009. Its Presidency will focus on economic themes: growth and financial deregulation, trade, innovation (including artificial intelligence) and the abundance of energy.
The 2026 G20 Summit is scheduled to take place in Miami, Florida, in December.
(To find out more, visit the 2026 G20 website.)]
In 2025, South Africa became the first African country to hold the Presidency of the G20. The South African Presidency of the G20 built on the previous ones, maintaining the momentum of a G20 focusing on global challenges and no longer simply economic challenges. South Africa chose three guiding concepts for its Presidency: “solidarity, equality and sustainability”
The Johannesburg Summit was held on 22 and 23 November 2025. The priorities focused on by the South African Presidency included:
The development of the African continent was central to the priorities of the South African G20 Presidency, and a G20 Africa Engagement Framework was adopted, which South Africa will support until 2030. The South African Presidency also published a G20@20 Review taking stock of the achievements and prospects of the G20, with the following operational conclusions: (i) restore the G20’s focus on its fundamental macroeconomic subject and common challenges; (ii) rationalize its work, which has suffered bureaucratic inflation; and (iii) maintain its informal nature.
France strongly supported South Africa’s initiatives throughout its Presidency and defended the integrity and sustainability of the G20 while promoting fairer and more inclusive global governance. France took part in the G20@20 Review with a view to boosting the effectiveness of multilateralism.
Brazil held the G20 Presidency for the first time in 2024, organizing the annual Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 18 and 19 November 2024. Following on from the Indian (2023) and Indonesian (2022) Presidencies, Brazil’s agenda focused on development, the fight against inequalities and the protection of the most vulnerable.
The Brazilian Presidency sought to focus on:
France supported these initiatives, which help limit fragmented approaches, reinforce the relevance of this unique body which is the G20 to guide global economic and financial governance, and also foster the preservation of global public goods in a spirit of shared responsibility. In line withwhat France began with the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in 2023, it stood with Brazil during the latter’s Presidency to give impetus to global governance reform.
Updated: January 2026
