Berlin/Brussels, 8 December 2021
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Paris and Brussels on December 10 for his inaugural visits. In Paris, Chancellor Scholz is received with military honors by President Emmanuel Macron. Chancellor Scholz’s first visit abroad is an expression of the close ties and friendship between Germany and France. The discussion will focus on bilateral, international and European issues.
In Brussels, Chancellor Scholz will meet EU Commission President von der Leyen and European Council President Michel. The focus of these meetings is the preparation of the European Council in the coming week. In the evening, Chancellor Scholz will also meet NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg in Brussels to underline the importance of the alliance for German, European and transatlantic security.
Foreign Minister Baerbock is visiting Paris, Brussels, and Warsaw
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will initially travel to Paris on Wednesday evening (December 8th), where she will meet her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday morning (December 9th).
On Thursday afternoon, Minister Baerbock will travel to Brussels to hold talks with EU High Representative Borrell. In addition, Minister Baerbock will meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
On Friday morning (December 10th), Minister Baerbock will travel to Warsaw to meet Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. The Foreign Minister’s program in Warsaw also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier and a conversation with Poland’s Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek. Minister Baerbock will travel back to Berlin on Friday afternoon.
The Foreign Minister’s talks in Paris, Brussels, and Warsaw will focus on current bilateral, European, and foreign policy issues, including the situation between Russia and Ukraine, overcoming the global climate crisis, the Polish OSCE Chairmanship in 2022, the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, as well as the future of the European Union and the French EU Council Presidency.”
Source: German Government (via e-mail) – translated by IEU