A special partnership at the heart of Europe

Today’s meeting is a special one. Exactly 35 years after the founding of the Weimar Triangle, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Poland are meeting in Weimar. Then Foreign Ministers Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Roland Dumas and Krzysztof Skubiszewski met here for the first time in 1991 and laid the foundation stone for the close cooperation that has come to symbolise European unity.

Back then, Europe was in the throes of profound change. German reunification and the end of the division of Europe created the historic opportunity to draw the continent closer together. Today, all three countries are the closest of partners in the European Union and in NATO. Celebrating this anniversary in Weimar builds a bridge between the historic sense of new beginnings after the end of the Cold War and the equally profound changes and challenges of our time. Both then and now, the aim is to take responsibility together for a free and safe Europe that is able to act.

Foreign Minister Wadephul underlined in Weimar:

Together at Ukraine’s side

One focus of the meeting is the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. As we approach the next winter at war, strengthening Ukraine’s air defences is the priority. Germany, France and Poland are discussing how they can coordinate their support even more closely and, together with their partners, help safeguard Ukrainian military and finance in the long term. At the same time, the three Foreign Ministers want to increase the pressure on Moscow to engage in serious negotiations.

The Ministers will also discuss Ukraine’s prospect of EU membership. Germany is committed to making tangible progress in the enlargement process. Together, the Weimar Triangle wants to send a strong signal: The accession prospects of Ukraine, Moldova and the countries of the Western Balkans have to remain credible. At the same time, sustainable progress on reforms remains a key prerequisite for a swift accession process.

United against hybrid threats

For some time now, the challenges facing European security have not been limited to conventional military sources. The mounting challenges for European countries come in the form of hybrid attacks, sabotage, disinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure.

The most recent incident in Leipzig represents a new level of hybrid threat and Germany is for this reason expanding its capabilities. At the same time, Europe has to cooperate even more closely moving beyond the exchange of information to provide rapid and coordinated responses that increase the cost of hybrid attacks.

Germany, France and Poland are cooperating closely to combat disinformation and foreign interference. We want to further deepen this operative cooperation and thereby generate momentum for joint action within the EU.

A stronger Europe in a changed world

Economic security has also become a key foreign and security policy issue. Economic pressure and export restrictions on critical raw materials do not just impact Europe’s competitiveness but also increasingly its defence capability. For this reason, Germany, France and Poland want to strengthen European resilience, reduce risks and at the same time keep communication channels open.

Furthermore, a strong Europe means an EU that is able to act and a stronger European pillar in NATO. Here, one focus is on the institutional structure behind European external action as well as on faster and better decision-making procedures in common foreign and security policy. We need to rigorously implement the decisions taken at the recent NATO Summit, strengthen Europe’s defence industry and extend European capabilities.

35 years after it was founded, therefore, the Weimar Triangle continues to be what was intended from the outset: a place where Germany, France and Poland can together develop responses to the major European questions and a place which creates momentum for a united, safe Europe that is able to act.