G8

Emanating from previous G8 meetings the main areas discussed include the following and below the comments so far from Chancellor Merkel of Germany on each of them and the German governments position.

On August 1, 2006, the German G8 Sherpa office disclosed that therelevant cabinet session to determine the German Summit priority issues will take place October 11, 2006.

•Global Economic Imbalances
•Energy and Raw Materials
•World Trade and Intellectual Property Rights
•Environment and Climate Change
•Poverty and Development Aid
•Africa
•Middle East
•Outreach

Global Economic Imbalances
On July 27, 2006, the Financial Times reported that Merkel will focus the summits attention onglobal economic matters , such asglobal imbalances .

Energy and Raw Materials
On August 1, 2006, the German G8 Sherpa office disclosed that while no definite decisions concerning key topics have officially been made,energy and climate change and intellectual property rights will be priorities at the summit.

On July 27, 2006, theFinancial Times reported that the central topics of the German summit will be global economic imbalances,energy and intellectual property protection.

Sustainable, renewable and environmentally sound energy policy will be a topic for the summit.
World Trade and Intellectual Property Rights
On August 1, 2006, the German G8 Sherpa office disclosed that while no definite decisions concerning key topics have officially been made, energy and climate change andintellectual property rights will be priorities at the summit.

On July 27, 2006, theFinancial Times reported that the central topics of the German summit will be global economic imbalances, energy andintellectual property protection .

The trade agenda will focus particularly onintellectual property rights .

Environment and Climate Change
On August 1, 2006, the German G8 Sherpa office disclosed that while no definite decisions concerning key topics have officially been made, energy andclimate change and intellectual property rights will be priorities at the summit.

Poverty and Development Aid
On July 27, 2006, it was reported in theFinancial Times that Merkel will lead the G8away from its focus on development issues .

Chancellor Merkel announced to Russian reporters that while the agenda for the 2007 summit is not finalized, "of course, it will include astruggle against poverty ."

Africa
According to Larry Elliot, economics editor of the British dailyThe Guardian , Merkel has agreed to putAfrica on the summit agenda.

Middle East
On July 19, 2006, Chancellor Merkel announced to Russian reporters that "The topics will depend on the situation in the world then and will probably include a discussion onIran, the Middle East conflict ..."

Outreach
On July 27, 2006, theFinancial Times reported that Merkelrejected a proposal to extend G8 membership to include China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico . This proposal was supported by the UK.

On July 17, 2006, Chancellor Merkel stated thatMexico, Brazil and other countries invited to the 2006 summit will be invited to attend the G8 summit in 2007 .