ABSTRACT
The German G8 presidency decided to put two main issues on the agenda of the G8 summit in Heiligendamm: the world economy and Africa. The overarching motto of its G8 presidency was Growth and Responsibility in the Global Economy. The motto of Germany's summit agenda, Growth and Responsibility in the Global Economy, not only concerns the role of the G8 in shaping global economic relations, but also underlines the fact that, with their increasing weight in the world economy, the emerging economies also bear increasing responsibility for global issues. Africa needs sustainable economic growth, increased employment, and more internal and external investment. Economic growth and investment, independent responsibility and reform processes in Africa are important prerequisites. However, if the G8 is an instrument of coordination in its widest sense, involving an exchange of views and mutual understanding, then G8 meetings can help to build confidence and to arrive at common definitions.
