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Driving Europe forwards together – Minister of State Link at the Weimar Triangle meeting in Warsaw
Minister of State Michael Georg Link joined his French and Polish counterparts for Weimar Triangle talks on Europe today (1 October). Poland’s Secretary of State Piotr Serafin, who hosted the meeting, had invited Minister of State Link and French Minister for Europe Bernard Cazeneuve to Warsaw for the purpose.
Minister of State Link spoke in praise of their discussions:
I am glad that the Weimar Triangle of Ministers for Europe has become established as a forum for a trust-based conversation between our countries on all European integration issues – and more. All of us, the Poles, the French and the Germans, value the Weimar Triangle as a platform which helps drive Europe forwards. We want to pull together to help develop Europe further and strengthen its position in the world.
The three Ministers for European Affairs primarily addressed the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, the future of the EU as well as the Common Security and Defence Policy, and the Eastern Partnership. The meeting ended with the Ministers issuing a joint announcement on these topics.
Minister of State Link commented on the talks pertaining to the multiannual financial framework as follows:
The multiannual financial framework is the best growth package that Europe can call on. We don’t need to mutualize debt or create new taxes for the EU; we need to make sure that EU funds are well targeted and spent more efficiently. That principle is one which we share with our French and Polish partners.
Weimar Triangle talks between France, Poland and Germany are held regularly at various levels and on a range of different subjects. The three countries take it in turns to host the meetings.
The next, in spring 2013, will see Minister of State Link invite his French and Polish Weimar Triangle colleagues to Germany.