European Union and the G8
Encyclopedia
The European Union
(EU) is a member of the G8
(formerly the G7), dubbed its "9th member", holding all the privileges and obligations of membership but without the right to host or chair a summit. As the full name of the G8 is the "Group of Eight Nations", the EU has not been included in the number, hence there being nine members in the G8.
The President of the European Commission
has attended since he was first invited to the third G7 summit in 1977
, Roy Jenkins
was the then-President. Since 1981 the President has attended all sessions of the G7. The EU is currently represented by the Commission President and the President of the European Council
(the rotating chair of the council of EU state leaders - irregular attendance since 1982
). The Council Presidency sometimes coincides with one of the G8 members, in which case that leader attends with their national and European mandate. As the EU is a member, what the Presidents endorse at the G8 is politically binding on them.
The EU attends due to its role in the world economy, and its relevancy increased with the establishment of a single market
, common currency
and foreign policy
. The Paris Summit of 1989
was a landmark year for the EU's participation in the G7, when the G7 asked the EU to assume responsibility for Phare
.
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) is a member of the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
(formerly the G7), dubbed its "9th member", holding all the privileges and obligations of membership but without the right to host or chair a summit. As the full name of the G8 is the "Group of Eight Nations", the EU has not been included in the number, hence there being nine members in the G8.
President of the European Commission
The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission ― the executive branch of the :European Union ― the most powerful officeholder in the EU. The President is responsible for allocating portfolios to members of the Commission and can reshuffle or dismiss them if needed...
has attended since he was first invited to the third G7 summit in 1977
3rd G7 summit
The 3rd G7 Summit was held at London, United Kingdom between 7-8 May 1977. The venue for the summit meetings was the British Prime Minister's official residence at No...
, Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
was the then-President. Since 1981 the President has attended all sessions of the G7. The EU is currently represented by the Commission President and the President of the European Council
President of the European Council
The President of the European Council is a principal representative of the European Union on the world stage, and the person presiding over and driving forward the work of the European Council...
(the rotating chair of the council of EU state leaders - irregular attendance since 1982
8th G7 summit
The 8th G7 Summit was held at the in Versailles, France between July 4 to 6, 1982. The venue for the summit meetings was at the Château de Versailles near Paris....
). The Council Presidency sometimes coincides with one of the G8 members, in which case that leader attends with their national and European mandate. As the EU is a member, what the Presidents endorse at the G8 is politically binding on them.
The EU attends due to its role in the world economy, and its relevancy increased with the establishment of a single market
Single market
A single market is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of the factors of production and of enterprise and services. The goal is that the movement of capital, labour, goods, and services between the members...
, common currency
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
and foreign policy
Common Foreign and Security Policy
The Common Foreign and Security Policy is the organised, agreed foreign policy of the European Union for mainly security and defence diplomacy and actions. CFSP deals only with a specific part of the EU's external relations, which domains include mainly Trade and Commercial Policy and other areas...
. The Paris Summit of 1989
15th G7 summit
The 15th G7 Summit was held in the business district of La Défense to the west of Paris, France between July 14 to 16, 1989. The venue for the summit meetings was the Grande Arche which was rushed to completion for celebrations marking the bicentennial of the French Revolution and for the world...
was a landmark year for the EU's participation in the G7, when the G7 asked the EU to assume responsibility for Phare
Phare
The Phare programme is one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union....
.