European Union and the G7

The European Union (EU) is a member of the G7 (the G8, until Russia was uninvited in 2014). It has been dubbed its "8th member",^[1] holds all the privileges and obligations of membership but without the right to host or chair a summit.^[2] As the full name of the G7 is the "Group of Seven Nations", the EU has not been included in the number, hence there being eight members in the G7.^[2]

The President of the European Commission has attended since he was first invited to the third G7 summit in 1977, Roy Jenkins was the then-President.^[2] Since 1981 the President has attended all sessions of the G7.^[3] The EU is currently represented by the Commission President and the President of the European Council.^[2] The latter used to be the rotating chair of the council of EU state leaders, with irregular attendance since 1982.^[4] The Council Presidency sometimes coincided with one of the G8 members, in which case that leader attended with their national and European mandate.^[2] Since 2009, the President of the European Council is a permanent position, who always attends the summits. As the EU is a member, what the Presidents endorse at the G7 is politically binding on them.^[2]

The EU attends due to its role in the world economy, and its relevancy increased with the establishment of a single market, common currency and foreign policy. The Paris Summit of 1989 was a landmark year for the EU's participation in the G7, when the G7 asked the EU to assume responsibility for Phare.