The Group of Eight (G8) is coalition of eight of the world's leading industrialized nations: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, (the G6, 1975), Canada (the G7, 1978), and Russia (1998), as well as the European Union. The hallmark of the G8 is an annual economic and political summit of the heads of state with international officials, though there are numerous subsidiary meetings and policy research.
The current G8 leaders are:
On July 26, 2002 the G8 began a summit meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.
On June 1, 2003 the G8 began a summit meeting in Evian, France. See also : World Social Forum