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The first German-Danish Cultural Year of Friendship in 2020

13.06.2018 - Press release

Foreign Minister Heiko Mass is to meet his Danish counterpart Anders Samuelsen in Berlin today (13 June). Prior to their talks, the two announced plans to pay prominent tribute to the outstanding neighbourly relations between the two countries by staging a German-Danish Cultural Year of Friendship in 2020. One hundred years after the border between Germany and Denmark was peacefully drawn, the Cultural Year of Friendship provides the opportunity to highlight the many different connections between the two countries and extend and deepen cooperation in the long term.

Foreign Minister Maas issued the following statement:

German-Danish relations have never been better. Germany and Denmark are good neighbours and close partners who work together based on trust in Europe and the world. Relations of the minorities living on both sides of the border are exemplary. I am therefore especially delighted that we are going to celebrate this German-Danish friendship in both countries in 2020.



My Danish counterpart and myself are happy to act as patrons for this wonderful joint project. The aim of the Year of Friendship is also to deepen German-Danish relations yet further. I am convinced that the Year of Friendship will provide our outstanding neighbourly relations with further positive momentum.

The Danish Foreign Minister also commented on the plans:

Both politically and economically, Germany is one of Denmark’s closest partners in Europe. Relations between our two countries are close and deep-rooted, also in terms of culture. It is thus fitting to add a new, strong cultural dimension to our neighbourly relations whose quality is unique.



The year 2020 also marks the centenary of the demarcation of the border between Denmark and Germany. The Cultural Year of Friendship in 2020 creates a suitable framework in which to celebrate German-Danish relations in the border regions and to further intensify cultural exchange with Germany. I am thus delighted to have the opportunity, together with my German colleague, to act as patron for the Year of Friendship.

More information on the Year of Friendship programme and relevant beacon projects will be released in early 2019.

Germany and Denmark: bilateral relations

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