Sherpa (G8)
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A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state of government who prepares an international summit like the annual G8. In the between the G8 summits there are multiple sherpa conferences where possible agreements are laid out. This reduces the effort for the head of state at the final summit where they negotiate in person in the name of their state.
The sherpa position is very influential on world politics even that they have no assigned rights on decision. In Germany the canonic name of Chefunterhändler (chief negotiator) is a common second title to another high profile position. The current holder is Bernd Pfaffenbach (since 2004) being also secretary of state in the Ministry of Ecomonics (since 2005). The title was held before by Horst Köhler (current President of Germany) and Hans Tietmeyer (became later the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank).
The metaphor is that the "sherpa" prepares the way toward the "summit". The name is derived from the Sherpa people who have served as guides and porters to many expeditions in the Himalaya Mountains. The name was originally of informal usage in between the states of the European Union where personal representatives prepare work for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) meethings. While the position of a chief negotiator can be traced back under varying names to the first days of the European union process the name has catched an official reference just lately on the designation of a high profile group on competition regulation in the European chemistry that names officially a "Sherpa-Subgroup". (European Union, L 156/34, 16. June 2007, Articles 4,5 and 6).
The name sherpa - without further context - refers to sherpas for the G8 summit but the designation can be spread for different regular conferences where the participation of the respective head of state is required. In France Jean-David Levitte is sherpa for the G8 and Pascal Lamy is sherpa on the European Commission (representing Jacques Delors). Earlier French sherpas include Jacques Attali, Anne Lauvergeon, Jean-Marc de La Sablière, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne.
