The G8 Summit brings together the Leaders of the world's
major industrial democracies: Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United
States.
The European Union also attend the G8 Summit,
represented by the President of the European Commission and
the Leader of the country holding the Presidency of the
European Council.
Leaders have
traditionally discussed a wide range of international
economic, political, and security issues but the agenda has
broadened considerably to include microeconomic issues such
as employment and the information highway, transnational
issues such as the environment, crime and drugs, and a host
of political-security issues ranging from human rights
through regional security to arms control.
A network of supporting ministerial meetings throughout
the year has developed in tandem to continue the work set
out at each summit.
These include gatherings of finance, foreign and
environment ministers and their officials to meet on an ad
hoc basis to deal with pressing issues, such a terrorism,
energy, and development.
G8
Information Centre
The G8 began with a 1975 Summit in France
of six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK,
and the US).
Canada joined in 1976 and the European
Community began participation at the London Summit of 1977.
Russia began attending the political sessions in 1984 and
became a full member four years later.
The Presidency of the G8 and
responsibility for hosting the Summit rotates each
year.
Italy hosted the Summit in Genoa in 2001,
Canada hosted it in Kananaskis in 2002 and France was host
in Evian in 2003. The 2004 venue was Sea Island,
Georgia.
Gleneagles in Scotland is the host for
2005, and it will be Russia's turn in 2006.