What is the EPG?

The Eminent Persons Group was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their summit in November 2009. The group’s goals are to sharpen the impact, strengthen the networks, and raise the profile of the Commonwealth.

In the 'Affirmation of Commonwealth Principles' agreed at their 2009 meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth leaders called for the “creation of an Eminent Persons Group to undertake an examination of options for reform in order to bring the Commonwealth’s many institutions into a stronger and more effective framework of co-operation and partnership".

The group is also tasked with looking at the format, frequency, and content of Commonwealth ministerial meetings.

The group met at Marlborough House, London, in July and October 2010 and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in January 2011. They also met from 21 to 22 March 2011 and 26 to 27 July 2011 at Marlborough House. They presented a report to leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011.