40th G7 summit

The 40th G8 summit was due to be held in Russia in 2014. The meeting was planned for 4–5 June 2014 at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.[2] However, the other seven countries decided on March 24 that a summit would be held without Russia, in Brussels, Belgium.[3] It was held in Brussels on 4–5 June.[4][5]

40th G7 summit
Host countryEuropean Union (Belgium[1])
Date4–5 June 2014
CitiesBrussels (originally Sochi)[1]
Participants Canada
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Japan
 United Kingdom
 United States
 European Union
Follows39th G8 summit
Precedes41st G7 summit
Websitewww.european-council.europa.eu/g7brussels

Following 2014 Crimean crisis and accompanying Russian intervention in Crimea, there was talk of suspending or expelling Russia from the G8.[6][7] On 24 March, British prime minister David Cameron announced that the meeting would not take place in Russia due to the Crimean crisis.[8][9]

The G8 is an unofficial forum which brings together the heads of major world powers: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States, and Canada (all since 1976)[10] the EU Commission (since 1981) and Russia (until March 2014).[11] When the seven founding countries decided to hold the 40th such meeting without Russia, it became the 40th G7 summit.[3]

Leaders at the summit
Emergency meeting session.

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.[11]

The 40th G7 summit was the first summit for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Participants
Core G7 members
Host 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
Cancelled 40th G8 summit
Host countryRussia
DateJune 4–5, 2014
CitiesSochi
Participantscancelled[1][12]
Follows39th G8 summit
Websiteen.g8russia.ru
See also: 2014 Crimean crisis and 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine

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.[10] The leaders were expected to focus on responses to new global threats during the next G8 summit.[2] 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.[2]

Following the Crimean events 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 Russia's occupation of the Crimea was against the principles of the G7 and contravened the United Nations Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Leaders plan Brussels G7 in June instead of G8 in Sochi - source". reuters.com. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  2. "Russia to hold 2014 G8 summit in Sochi: Putin" at PressTV.ir Archived 2013-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, 19 June 2013; retrieved 2013-6-19.
  3. Leaders plan Brussels G7 in June instead of G8 in Sochi Irish Independent, 2014-03-24.
  4. "G-7 spares Russia new sanctions".
  5. "G7 leaders warn Russia of fresh sanctions over Ukraine".
  6. "Lawmakers call for suspension of Russia from G8, swift action against Putin".
  7. "Russia G8 status at risk over 'incredible act of aggression' in Crimea, says Kerry".
  8. Channel 4 News [@Channel4News] (24 March 2014). "There will be no G8 summit in Russia this year - David Cameron. #c4news" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "G8 summit 'won't be held in Russia'", BBC News, 24 March 2014; retrieved 2014-3-24.
  10. "2014 G8 Summit to Be Held in Sochi--Putin," RIA Novosti, 4 February 2013'; retrieved 2013-6-19.
  11. Reuters: "Factbox: The Group of Eight: what is it?", July 3, 2008.
  12. Russia further isolated as G-8 leaders cancel Sochi summit Archived 2014-03-28 at the Wayback Machine

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