G8 structure and procedures

Return to project homepage
Return to G8 introduction

The structure and procedures of the G8 Group of Industrialized States

The G8 does not have a secretariat. The country holding the chair is responsible for hosting and organizing the annual G8 Summit that brings together the leaders for talks on issues considered to be of global importance. In advance of the Summit the agenda is established in meetings between personal representatives of the leaders.

The chairmanship rotates throughout an agreed cycle at the end of each calendar year as follows: France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia (as of 2006), Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada.

The G8 host also organizes regular ministerial meetings to continue the work agreed at the previous summit. This includes meetings of foreign ministers. Officials also meet in issue-oriented working groups. There are working groups on counter-terrorism, nonproliferation and nuclear safety and security as well as a Senior Officials Group that was created to address the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

The G8 is not an executive body and participating states are expected to take all of the decisions and introduce all of the measures needed to implement Summit decisions.

Background
Structure and procedures
Summit documents
Global Partnership documents
The European Union and the G8 Global Partnership

Return to top

Any reproduction of text and data is authorized only by permission, SIPRI July 2004.