the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission will represent the European Union at the G8 summit which shall take place in Deauville (France) from 26 to 27 of May.

In 2011, France chairs both the G8 and the G20. The G8 continue to play an important role in shaping global responses to global challenges. It does so in a complementary way to the G20 leaders' process, which has been designated the world's "premier forum for international economic cooperation". The G20 summit will follow on 3-4 November 2011 in Cannes. The European Union is a full member of both the G8 and the G20.

The main topics to be discussed by G8 leaders in Deauville are the developments in the Arab world, the Internet, the world economy and trade, peace and security, nuclear safety, development accountability and the G8 Partnership with Africa. Also green growth and innovation will figure on the agenda. In addition, this is the first time since the beginning of the transitions in the Arab world that the G8 leaders will convene to address these developments.

The meeting will also serve as a platform to promote nuclear safety at global level following the nuclear incident in Japan.