Welcome
Steinmeier and Woidke meet Polish President Duda: “developing interpersonal contacts”

On 28 August, Federal Government Coordinator of German‑Polish Cooperation Dietmar Woidke and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met Polish President Andrzej Duda.

The Coordinator of German-Polish Cooperation, Minister-President Dietmar Woidke, advocated even broader exchange between Germany and Poland on all levels. “My main priority is to enable people to meet each other, talk to one another and to boost mutual understanding,” said Woidke in Berlin today. He had taken part in a discussion with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Poland’s new President Andrzej Duda in the German capital.
The miracle of normality
Woidke added: “Germany and Poland’s relations enjoy the miracle of normality. Relations have never been as good as they are today. We have been in close and intensive contact for years, at the human, societal, economic and political level. I have witnessed a host of successful and forward-looking projects which connect our countries’ civil societies. Our task now is to consolidate this foundation and expand it.”

Borders ceased to represent division a long time ago
Woidke continued: “I am pleased to be launching the PolenMobil initiative in three weeks; this project aims to encourage Germans living near the border to learn Polish. People ceased to view the border as something divisive a long time ago. Another priority for me is thus the German‑Polish railway summit which I will be hosting in two weeks’ time. At the summit we want to discuss how we can improve cross‑border railway links, for good and fast connections are one piece of the mosaic which brings people closer together on both sides of the border.”