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EVOLUTION OF THE
SUMMIT PROCESS The heads of state or government of the leading industrial democracies have met annually since 1975 to address the major economic and political issues facing their nations and the international community as a whole. The annual Summit provides an important occasion for leaders to discuss major international issues, and to respond effectively to potential threats to the international system. The leaders also give direction to the international community at large by setting priorities, forging common policies or establishing patterns of cooperation on transnational challenges, and providing guidance to established international organizations. Past Summits have addressed macroeconomic management, international trade, international institutions and relations with developing countries. From this initial foundation, the Summit agenda has broadened considerably to include microeconomic issues such as employment and the information highway. The Eight also have established concrete action plans on transnational issues such as international terrorism, crime, nuclear safety and security, and non-proliferation. Leaders discuss a host of political issues ranging from human rights through regional security to arms control. The six countries at the first Summit, held at Rambouillet, France in November 1975, were France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy. They were joined by Canada at the San Juan, Puerto Rico Summit of 1976, and by the European Community at the London Summit of 1977. The Denver Summit of the Eight in 1997 marked a milestone in Russia's participation in the Summit process, reflecting its critical role in addressing important global and political challenges and the significant strides it has made in reforming its political and economic systems. For the first time, Russia will be included in nearly all discussions of the leaders. The Birmingham Summit also will depart from previous summit formats in several other ways: the agenda will be more streamlined to focus on three central themes -- employability, crime and the global economic situation; and the G8 foreign and finance ministers will host separate meetings a week in advance of the main Summit, at Lancaster House in London. The Summit process is more than a once-a-year event. To help manage the broad range of issues discussed, finance and foreign ministers from the Summit countries meet regularly throughout the year. In addition, the leaders occasionally convene meetings of their ministers in other key areas, such as trade, environment, labor and justice. |
 
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