14 November 2012

Germany and Poland: Close cooperation on a basis of trust

Since the Iron Curtain fell, Germany and Poland have moved closer and closer. At a meeting of the two governments, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed to cooperate closely.

The German and Polish governments met in Berlin for the twelfth government consultations. The two governments met in plenary session. Before the all-government meeting, the Chancellor and the Polish Prime Minister met to exchange views. Parallel to this the Polish ministers met with their German opposite numbers. 

Following the all-government meeting Angela Merkel and Donald Tusk signed several bilateral agreements, including an agreement on cooperation in the field of rail transport.

Government consultations are meetings involving the governments of two states. They serve as a source of information and advice. As well as the heads of state of the two countries, the consultations are attended by all Cabinet ministers. Government consultations are seen as a reflection of close cooperation between two states.

Looking ahead to the EU summit meeting

Both Germany and Poland fully intend to achieve agreement at the special EU summit meeting on 23 and 24 November in Brussels on the EU’s financial framework for the period up to 2020. "We will do everything we can to get a result", declared the Chancellor.

Donald Tusk too stressed that Europe needs a swift, balanced budget compromise. It is also clear, however, he said, that Germany, as a net contributor, and Poland, as a net recipient, have divergent interests in terms of the EU budget.

So far the Member States have always managed to hammer out a compromise, although it will not be easy for the 27 Member States to come to an agreement. "Germany will try to convince the Member States how important it is to come to an agreement, especially in the current situation", explained Angela Merkel.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the German-Polish Neighbourhood Agreement, which was signed on 17 June 1991 by the then heads of state, Helmut Kohl for Germany and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki for Poland. The "Treaty of Good Neighbourhood and Friendly Cooperation" marked the start of the practical reconciliation between the German and the Polish peoples.

Press release

See also German-Polish intergovernmental consultations

© The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government