On 27 November, Foreign Minister Westerwelle is to open the 12th German-Netherlands Forum together with his Dutch counterpart Frans Timmermans. This year’s motto is “The future of Europe and our future in Europe”.

Germany and the Netherlands are important partners – both in Europe and as regards day-to-day cross-border cooperation.

Talking to each other to learn from each other: The German-Netherlands Forum serves precisely this purpose. Following the opening of the Forum by the Ministers and then also on 28 November, discussion groups comprising civil society representatives from the two countries will jointly review the expectations placed in European integration and the possibilities for a stronger and better Europe from the German and the Dutch angle.