ABSTRACT
G-8, or the Group of Eight, is an exclusive club comprising the world’s seven most industrialized states along with Russia. Originally known as G-7, this was officially the title of meetings between the finance ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the USA, a practice that was established in Tokyo in May 1986. The term was also used more generally to describe the summit meetings of the heads of government of the same seven countries, which began at Rambouillet, France, in 1975 (although Canada did not become involved in the G-7 process until some months after the initial meeting). Leaders of the USSR and, later, Russia were invited to attend the summits after 1991. Russia demanded equal representation and became a full member in 2002, thereby making the group G-8. Originally intended to discuss common economic problems, after 1989 the summit agendas became increasingly political in tone and have sought to tackle some of the thorniest issues such as trade with the Third World, global poverty and environmental issues. The meetings of the world’s richest countries have, over the years, become the target for protesters, as in Rostock, Germany in June 2007. The European Union is represented by the President of the European Commission and by the President of the European Council.
