The G8 - an international forum of leading industrial nations - aim to find new answers to global political and global economic problems in dialogue with the big emerging economies.
Germany's agenda for the G8 Summit makes it clear that because the emerging economies now carry more weight in the global economy they should also take on more responsibility for global issues. Germany wants to use its G8 Presidency to give recognition to the fact that these emerging economies have a bigger role to play. At the same time they are to be involved more in "global governance".
"Global governance" is the term used to describe the new structures being used to "govern" globalisation in political terms. The English word "governance" refers to the regulation of matters that jointly affect individuals, private and public institutions. They can be of a formal or informal nature. The equivalent word in German is Ordnungspolitik.
The concept of "global governance" has been widely used since 1991, when the Commission on Global Governance, which was co-financed by the United Nations, put forward its report. The initiative for the report came at a conference held in Königswinter in 1990 on the invitation of former Chancellor Willy Brandt. Kurt Biedenkopf was the German member on the committee of 28.
The concept of "global governance" has been widely used since 1991, when the Commission on Global Governance, which was co-financed by the United Nations, put forward its report. The initiative for the report came at a conference held in Königswinter in 1990 on the invitation of former Chancellor Willy Brandt. Kurt Biedenkopf was the German member on the committee of 28.
The Heiligendamm process – structured cooperation with major emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa)
Regular formal and structured talks are to be launched. The political initiatives triggered in Heiligendamm are to be continued in a structured manner on individual issues (Heiligendamm Process). The German G8 Presidency aims to develop procedures that will generate a common understanding on the part of the G8 states and the major emerging economies in terms of how to tackle the major global challenges of our times. The objective is not to enlarge the G8 to make it a G13, but to build new cooperation with the emerging economies in the form of a topic-oriented dialogue.
The G8 will be meeting outreach leaders at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm on Friday 8 June. The emerging economies will be represented by:
- The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
- The President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao,
- The Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh,
- The President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, and
- The President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon will also attend the meetings.
