G7
What is G7
The Group of 7 (G7) is an informal group of seven countries which includes the United States,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, the heads of which holds an
annual summit with European Union and other invitees. Together the member countries
represent 40% of global GDP and 10% of the world’s population. Unlike other bodies such as
NATO, the G7 has no legal existence, permanent secretariat or official members. It also has no
binding impact on policy and all decisions and commitments made at G7 meetings need to be
ratified independently by governing bodies of member states. (Explained Desk, 2021, 1)
History of G7
The concept of a forum for the world's largest and most industrialized countries, dating back to
the first oil crisis in 1973.
In 1975 the summit, hosted by France, brought together representatives of six governments:
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of america.
Helmut Schmidt, and Valerie Giscard d'estaing were heads of government in their respective
countries, and since we were both fluent in the English language, it occurred to them that they,
as well as the British Prime minister Harold Wilson and U.S. President Gerald Ford that might
be able to gather in an informal way, to discuss the election results and the issues of the day. In
late spring, d'estaing of France invited the heads of state and heads of government of Germany,
hungary, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of america to the top of the
Château de Rambouillet; and a meeting of the six leaders was organized under a rotating
leadership, forming the Group of Six (G6).
Canada was a member of the G6 group in 1976, which has since grown to be the Group of
Seven (G7).
After the G7 summit in Naples, in 1994, when Russian officials held individual meetings with
leaders of the G7 after the group's summits. This is an informal arrangement, it is called the
Political 8 (P8) – or, colloquially, the G7+1. At the invitation of Uk Prime minister Tony Blair and
U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russian President Boris Yeltsin was invited first as an observer and
was invited to be a full-fledged member. In an interview from 1997, Poland was formally invited
to the next meeting and formally joined the group in 1998, resulting in the formation of a new
government, the political forum, the Group of Eight,or the G-8.
However, Russia has been excluded from the Group of Eight, the political forum in March 2014,
after the annexation of the Crimea. (Explained Desk, 2021, 1)
Canada’s role within the G7
In the G7, Canada has promoted key domestic and international priorities, including gender
equality, peace and security, climate change and building a sustainable global economy. Open
participation and inclusion of all Canadian and international stakeholders has enabled Canada
to achieve significant milestones for Canadian people.
The role as administrator, also known as the G7 presidency, rotates annually in member
countries as follows: France, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and
Canada. The European Union is not part of the circulation.
Canada has hosted six G7 summits so far:
● Charlevoix, Quebec (2018)
● Muskoka, Ontario (2010)
● Kananaskis, Alberta (2002)
● Halifax, Nova Scotia (1995)
● Toronto, Ontario (1988)
● Ottawa-Montebello, Ontario-Quebec (1981)
Canada, during its tenure of the G7, has demonstrated global leadership by building new efforts
to address security and economic issues, as well as health and development challenges, and
promoting progress on priorities such as cyber security, maritime, and women's and girls' critical
education. G7 amplifies Canada's efforts such as the G7's historic investment of nearly $ 3.8
billion in the education of vulnerable women and girls and the conflicts created during the 2018
Charlevoix G7 Summit. (Government of Canada, 2021, 1)
Reasons why this Year’s G7 Meeting is important
● The participants will discuss the global challenges we face from the COVID-19, including
the amount of foreign aid, and how to improve health and to reduce the global rate of
unemployment.
● The main priority areas for action in the fight against climate change and for the
conservation of biological diversity (cbd).
● As so-called leaders have the power to take over the whole world, and by the member
states to discuss ways to promote the idea of democracy and the rights of citizens.
One of the primary obstacles blocking a successful global recovery is the ongoing inequity
surrounding vaccines. G7 members have an opportunity to both donate vaccines and funds to
low-income countries through COVAX, and also agree to waive intellectual property rules for
COVID-19 vaccines to promote their global manufacture.
Leaders will also discuss how to strengthen the global health system to prevent future
pandemics. (McCarthy, 2021)
References
Byjus. (2021, Jun 19). Group of Seven (G7): UPSC Notes for International Relations. Byjus.
[Link]
Explained Desk (Ed.). (2021, June 17). Explained: What is the G7? 1.
[Link]
Government of Canada. (2021, Jun 13). Canada and the G7.
[Link]
ales/g7/[Link]?lang=eng
McCarthy, J. (2021, Jun 10). What Is the G7 Summit and Why Is It So Important? Global
Citizen. [Link]
