Distraction by the Eurozone crisis has led to the continent being sidelined on the world stage, says Kevin Rudd.
The former Prime Minister of Australia was speaking at the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda 2012 in Dubai.
“Europe has become largely irrelevant, when it comes to international affairs and foreign policy. The Eurozone crisis has sapped the continent of its energy,” he said.
“The financial crisis has made the continent more inward looking than outward.”
He also pointed to Europe’s diminishing power as China surged into becoming the world’s biggest economy.
Europe’s problem is a world problem
“China will become the largest economy in the world in the next 10 years and it’s critical to engage with the country during this transition,” said Rudd.
The world, he said, needed to build understanding with the Chinese, or risk the same mistakes that led to the Second World War.
He also told the forum that many fragile states in the Middle East are facing huge problems with large-scale unemployment despite government initiatives.
And, he said, the world should be aware that as climate change takes a hold, the production and distribution of food will become ‘volatile’.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the United Arab Emirate’s Minister of Economy, backed up Mr Rudd’s viewpoint during a press conference.
“The European Union is still in crisis. They are still contemplating the solution and I think they need to look at the crisis from a collective, holistic point,” he said.
“An individualistic approach will not work. We are one world and should discuss these important issues collectively.”
Call for global unity
He said the global financial crisis dominated discussions at the summit and added: “Most of these issues should have been tackled long ago, in the 20th century. However, they are still lingering and we should collectively solve them.”
The summit attracts more than 1,000 of the world’s leading experts from business, government and academia to discuss global issues.
The fifth summit concluded with a call from organisers to world leaders to appreciate a global viewpoint rather than just focussing on domestic issues.
Klaus Schwab, the forum’s founder and executive chairman, warned that 2013 was going to be a “crucial year, with many rupture points”.
He added: “Leaders need to devote sufficient time and positive energy to look after our global issues and not just to be absorbed with internal problems. Let’s make 2013 a year of true global cooperation.”
