Welcome
Minister of State Roth travels to France
Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth is setting off today (22 November) on a three-day trip to France.
Prior to his departure, Minister of State Roth said:
This trip to France is a very special one for me as it ties together remembrance of our shared past and the testing times of the present. I am greatly honoured to present Serge Martin, one of the survivors of the horrific massacre in Maillé, with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his tireless work to promote remembrance and reconciliation. He is an outstanding figure whose life story moved me greatly.
I am also looking forward to presenting the duo Zweierpasch with this year’s Adenauer-de Gaulle Prize together with my French counterpart Nathalie Loiseau. They are living proof of how innovative and forward-looking Franco-German relations are. Their Franco-German lyrics bring the countries’ shared history to life and draw people closer together.
Together with Nathalie Loiseau, I will also chair the plenary of the Franco-German Integration Council on Friday. We will discuss the successes and difficulties of integrating refugees and immigrants in society and the job market together with experts from both countries. After all, shaping immigration needs teamwork in Europe, it is not a discipline where each nation can go it alone.
Background
Together with Nathalie Loiseau, French Minister for European Affairs, Minister of State Roth will this evening present the Adenauer-de Gaulle Prize to the hip-hop duo Zweierpasch in Paris for their contribution to Franco-German cooperation.
On Friday, Minister of State Roth will have political talks with Philippe Etienne, President Macron’s foreign policy advisor, before chairing the plenary of the Franco-German Integration Council together with his French counterpart Nathalie Loiseau, as well as Markus Kerber, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and his French counterpart Laurent Nunez.
Michael Roth and Nathalie Loiseau will also travel to Clichy-sous-Bois, a suburb east of Paris, to meet with pupils of the Albert Nobel Grammar School to talk to them about the challenges facing Europe and Europe’s future. On Saturday 24 November, the Minister of State for Europe will attend a ceremony to remember the victims of the massacre perpetrated by German soldiers in Maillé during World War II and present Mr Serge Martin with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mr Martin’s family lost their lives in this massacre and he has been working for decades to promote reconciliation and remembrance.