The present triennial commission report embraces mainly activities in wide angle, optical astrometry. With the successful development and application of new techniques from Earth (e.g. optical interferometry, CCD’s) and space (Hipparcos mission and new projects) the sub-division between Commissions 8 (Positional Astrometry) and 24 (Photographic Astrometry) has become questionable. During the GA at Kyoto in 1997 all steps for a merger of both commissions have been taken. The final merging will take place at the forthcoming GA in Manchester. For a more complete overview on astrometrical work done in the past triennium the reader should also take notice of the report of Commission 24.