The 40th G7 summit was held 4–5 June 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. It was originally scheduled to be held as the "40th G8 summit" and be hosted by Russia in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. However, Russia was excluded from the grouping due to its annexation of Crimea and the remaining members chose to hold the summit instead in Brussels.Leaders plan Brussels G7 in June instead of G8 in Sochi Irish Independent, 24 March 2014.
Following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, there was talk of suspending or expelling Russia from the G8. On 24 March, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the meeting would not take place in Russia due to its annexation of Crimea."G8 summit 'won't be held in Russia'", BBC News, 24 March 2014; retrieved 24 March 2014.
The G8 is an unofficial forum which brings together the heads of major economies – Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada (all since 1976), "2014 G8 Summit to Be Held in Sochi—Putin," RIA Novosti, 4 February 2013'; retrieved 19 June 2013. the European Union (since 1981), and Russia (from 1997 until March 2014).Reuters: "Factbox: The Group of Eight: what is it?", 3 July 2008. When the seven founding countries decided to hold the 40th such meeting without Russia, it became the "40th G7 summit".
Leaders at the summit
The attendees included the leaders of the seven G7 member states, as well as representatives of the European Union. The President of the European Commission is a permanently welcome participant in all meetings and decision-making since 1981.
The 40th G7 summit was the first summit for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
Participants Core G7 membersHost state and leader are shown in bold text. Member Represented by Title Canada Stephen Harper Prime Minister France François Hollande President Germany Angela Merkel Chancellor Italy Matteo Renzi Prime Minister Japan Shinzō Abe Prime Minister United Kingdom David Cameron Prime Minister United States Barack Obama President European Union José Manuel Barroso Commission President Herman Van Rompuy Council President
Cancelled Sochi summit
Traditionally, the host country of the G8 summit sets the agenda. Presidential Executive Office Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov was the chairman of the organizational committee on preparation for Russia's G8 presidency. The leaders were expected to focus on responses to new global threats during the next G8 summit. The infrastructure of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi was planned to be used to host the G8 summit. No additional pre-summit costs were budgeted.
Following the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission held an extraordinary G7 summit in The Hague and suspended their participation in preparatory meetings for the G8. In a statement, the leaders of the G7 countries stated that the annexation of Crimea was against the principles of the G7 and contravened the United Nations Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine.
Gallery of participating leaders Core G7 participants
See also List of G7 summits List of G20 summits
References
External links
University of Toronto: G8 Information Centre