At the Kyoto summit in June 1997, EDF chose “Internationalisation of the Electricity Sector” and “SED” as its Chairmanship themes for the following year. As a result, the Internationalisation Working Group was created under the leadership of EDF to develop a set of guidelines for international activities in the electricity sector. The proposed guidelines would serve as a basis for an international framework to ensure that electricity development, in the context of internationalisation, would be sustainable. These guidelines reflect that the e8 members, while competing in the global economy, are willing to contribute to sustainable development objectives.
The following year, at the 1998 e7 Summit in Versailles, the Internationalisation Working Group presented The e8 Proposal for International Guidelines: Promoting Sustainable Development in the Global Electric Industry. The e8 Chairmen approved the publication and indicated that this e8 proposal for international guidelines could serve as a foundation for the development of a comprehensive document or a ‘code of good practices’ consistent with SED principles, in the context of internationalisation, and applicable to all stakeholders.
Major global environmental and social issues that affect the electric utility industry are considered to be the top priorities of the e8.
The issues of sustainable development, climate change, social trust, and internationalisation are the focus of the e8's actions.