The Group of Eight (G-8) is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G-8 was originally formed in 1975 as the Group of Six with representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and US. Canada joined in 1976 to form the G-7, and Russia joined in 1997 to become the G-8. The G-8 holds annual summits where the country holding the presidency is responsible for hosting ministerial meetings on issues like health, trade, and foreign affairs. Russia was suspended in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea and withdrew permanently in 2017.

1. Power Point Presentation
V. MURUGAN,
Assistant Professor of History,
Vivekananda College,
Tiruvedakam West,
Madurai District,
Tamil Nadu.

2. The Group of Eight (G-8)

3. Origin
• It was an inter governmental political forum.
• The idea of creating G-8 was originated in 1975 at a
summit hosted by France.
• It brought together the representatives of Six
Governments.
• France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The United Kingdom
and the United States.
• This was named as the Group of Six or G-6.
• It came to be known as G-7 with the addition of
Canada in 1976.
• In 1997, it came to be known as G-8 with the
addition of Russia.

4. Members
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan
• Russia
• United Kingdom
• United States

5. Structure and Activities
• The G-8 deliberately lacked an administrative structure.
• It does not have a permanent secretariat or offices for its
members.
• The presidency of the group rotates annually among
member countries.
• New term beginning on 1 January of the year.
• The rotation order is: France, the United States, the
United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, and
Canada.
• The country holding the presidency is responsible for
planning and hosting a series of ministerial-level
meetings.
• The president of the European Commission participates
as an equal in all summit events.

6. Structure and Activities …
• The ministerial meetings bring together ministers
responsible for various portfolios.
• To discuss issues of mutual or global concern.
• The range of topics include health, law enforcement,
labour, economic and social development, energy,
environment, foreign affairs, justice and interior, terrorism,
and trade.
• There are also a separate set of meetings known as the G-
8 + 5.
• Created during the 2005 Gleneagles, Scotland summit.
• The five countries are known as "outreach countries”.
• They are Brazil, People’s Republic of China, India, Mexico
and South Africa.

7. • In June 2005, Justice Ministers and Interior Ministers
from the G8 countries agreed to launch an
international database on pedophiles.
• The G8 officials also agreed to pool data on terrorism,
subject to restrictions by privacy and security laws in
individual countries.
Structure and Activities …

8. Conclusion
• In March 2014 Russia was suspended indefinitely following the annexation of Crimea.
• Whereupon the political forum name reverted to G7.
• In 2017 Russia announced its permanent withdrawal from the G8.
• The European Union was represented at the G8 since the 1980s as a "non enumerated" participant, but originally
could not host or chair summits.