The 35th G8 summit will be held in L'Aquila, Italy from 8 to 10 July. Leaders from the G8 rich nations and the major developing countries will together discuss the most important global economic and political issues.

Member countries from the G8 group are Canada, the Russian Federation, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union.

The annual leaders' Summit will discuss the following issues showing on the Italian Presidency's agenda:

.a response to the global economic and financial crisis;

.the restoration of grassroots confidence and a boost to growth on a more solid and balanced basis, also through the definition of new, shared ground rules for economic activities;

.a focus on the social aspect of employment, to help the weaker sectors of society both in the industrially advanced countries and in the poorer countries;

.the struggle against protectionism and the deregulation of world trade for everyone's benefit;

.the resolution of regional crises;

. food security and safety and the struggle against climate changes.

The G8 group has been meeting on an annual basis since 1975, the first meeting involved only six countries, while today the G8 comprises eight member countries plus the European Union.

The G8 Process has expanded not only its membership but also its principal agenda, which now embraces a series of topics ranging from the environment, to human rights, and to regional security.

Japan Germany Russia United kingdom