Euro gloom casts shadow over G8 summit
The leaders of the world's eight richest countries are meeting in Camp David, Maryland in the US today to discuss a range of international issues, none more pressing than the political turmoil in Greece and the eurozone crisis.
The issue at the heart of discussion will be whether European economies need a fiscal stimulus to start growing again. Germany is particularly opposed to any suggestion of governments borrowing more money, while France's new president Francois Hollande has called repeatedly for "growth" without giving away many details.
Another important subject is Greece, and whether it will be held to the original terms of the fiscal pact despite growing political pressure.
David Cameron has said that he intends to use the summit to push for trade deals, particularly between the EU and the US.
Writing on the Politics Home website he said the G8 meeting offers an opportunity to "free ourselves from the baggage and bureaucracy of past summits and actually get things done".
On Thursday, the Prime Minister held a short video conference with German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande and Italian prime minister Mario Monti.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said they discussed the priorities for the G8 summit "including Greece, growth and the importance of expanding trade relations between the US and the EU."
This will be the first G8 summit for France's newly-inaugurated President Francois Hollande, who may ruffle some feathers after openly challenging austerity measures in Europe during his election campaign.
David Cameron will meet Mr Hollande at the British ambassador's residence in Washington before flying to Camp David. It is only the second time the two leaders have come face to face and they are expected to discuss the euro as well as the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan.
Despite representing the left-wing Socialist party in France, President Hollande insists he has much in common with the Prime Minister, and says the major defence and nuclear deals signed by the UK and France in February remain intact.
Jose Manuel Barroso, the head of the European Commission, defended Europe's response to the economic crisis as "robust", insisting the EU would maintain its policies - without being "blind" to evolving circumstances.
Russia's newly-inaugurated President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the summit, sending Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the former president, in his place. His absence is being seen as a snub to President Obama.
The full list of topics to be covered at the summit spans food security for Africa to the nuclear debate with Iran, troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, further course of action in Syria and North Korea all the way to climate protection.
The countries attending the talks are: Britain, Canada, France, Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan as well as the US which is hosting the talks.