G8 Countries
The members of the Group of Eight, or G8, are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The eight members meet once a year at Heads of State and Government level.
France, the United States and Russia are represented by their Heads of State, whereas the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada are represented by their respective Heads of Government.
European Union
The European Union takes part in the G8 process through the European Commission, and it will be represented at the summit both by the President of the European Commission and by the Head of State or Government of the member state holding the EU Presidency at the time.
The Czech Republic took over the EU Presidency on 1 January 2009 (first semester), while the Presidency will fall to the Swedish Government on 1 July 2009 (second semester).
Member States:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Leader:
Council of the European Union Duty President
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden
European Commission President
José Manuel Barroso
