G-8 summit

The 37th G-8 summit was held on May 26-27, 2011 in the commune of Deauville in France.   The G-8 is comprised of the eight main industrialised countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Middle East and North Africa, nuclear safety and economic recovery topped the agenda of G-8 leaders.

G-8 countries and multilateral development banks pledged $20bn in backing for democratic reform, with the EU offering new. The G8 also endorsed the EU's call for worldwide stress tests on nuclear power plants as part of a review of international safety standards. 

The G-8 partners shared the EU's resolve to strengthen the multilateral system and liberalise free trade in line with the World Trade Organisation's 2001 Doha mandate, which calls for a fair global trade deal.

On the impetus of the President of the French Republic, the members of the G-8 have committed, within the framework of the "Deauville Partnership", to helping the Arab countries in their transition to free and democratic societies.

Tunisia and Egypt are the first countries to commit to this transition and to join the "Deauville Partnership". The multilateral development banks are prepared to raise more than USD 20 billion, of which EUR 3.5 billion will come from the EIB, to benefit Egypt and Tunisia by 2013