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The Weimar Triangle: 35 years of cooperation between Germany, France and Poland
Logo of the Weimar Triangle © Auswärtiges Amt
35 years after it was established, the trilateral Weimar Triangle is more important than ever for coordinating cross-border European and international issues.
The Weimar Triangle provides Germany, France and Poland with a key forum in which to agree on approaches to shared challenges. Alongside the governments themselves, the parliaments and civil societies of the three countries also work closely together within this format.
On 28 August 1991, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Poland – Hans‑Dietrich Genscher, Roland Dumas and Krzysztof Skubiszewski – met in Weimar on Goethe’s birthday to set up the Weimar Triangle. Their aim was to identify shared fundamental interests regarding Europe’s future and to extend cross-border cooperation. In a 10‑point declaration, the ministers underscored the major responsibility that the three countries shoulder for the European integration process. Historic milestones since then include in particular Poland’s accession to NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004).
Over three decades after it was established, this trilateral negotiation and cooperation format is more important than ever when it comes to injecting fresh impetus into political and civil society dialogue and thereby making Europe more united and capable of action. Perhaps more than any other format, the Weimar Triangle stands for European cohesion and symbolises how Europe’s future can be jointly shaped at many different levels. In doing so, our three countries also seek joint exchanges with other partners, for example with Moldova and Ukraine, or in January 2026 with India.
Over the last 35 years, the exchange among the civil societies of the Weimar Triangle – organised by a broad range of stakeholders – has become more important than ever. Particularly visible are town twinning arrangements, youth exchanges and a wide variety of cultural events. A special focus in recent years has been on joint projects and events with and in support of Ukraine. Furthermore, there are now registered “Weimar Triangle” associations in all three countries. These vibrant meetings play a crucial role in helping the citizens of these three countries at the heart of Europe grow even closer together.