Özdemir: strategic realignment of cooperation with African partners

21.01.2025: Özdemir: strategic realignment of cooperation with African partners

Berlin (d.de) - German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, together with Josefa Sacko, agriculture commissioner of the African Union (AU), has presented a new cooperation concept. It will strategically realign the Ministry of Agriculture’s cooperation with African countries and regions. The guiding principle is that a sustainable agriculture and functioning food systems are pillars for peace and political stability.

“Our Africa concept is a renewed avowal that our neighbouring continent remains a focus of our attention. With this concept, we are providing specific measures to flesh out the Federal Government’s Policy Guidelines for Africa in the area of agriculture. We aim to use our know-how to the best of our ability in order to create a sustainable and climate-adapted agriculture,” Özdemir said.

The concept originated in a participatory approach involving the AU, civil society, science, business and young people from African countries and Germany.

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20.01.2025: German Federal Government: release of first hostages is “Day of joy”

Berlin (dpa) – Under a ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released three hostages held for over 15 months. The German Chancellor and Foreign Minister expressed their relief but also called for more. “Today is a day of joy: at long last, more Hamas hostages have been released and reunited with their families,” Chancellor Scholz wrote on social media. He stressed that there must be more progress after this first step. “All hostages must be freed and more humanitarian aid must swiftly get into the Gaza Strip.”

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote that, “Today, relief and sadness are side-by-side: pure relief that the hostages are back in the arms of their loved ones after 471 days. But also sadness at the certainty that not all will have survived.” Baerbock said the remaining hostages and their families were particularly in her thoughts. If all involved keep to the terms of the agreements, the ceasefire can be more than just a moment to draw breath, Baerbock said. She stressed that the German government was doing all it could to get urgently needed help to people in Gaza.

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17.01.2025: Sudan: Development ministry support

Berlin/Port Sudan (d.de) - Germany’s Parliamentary Secretary of State to the Development Ministry Niels Annen is visiting Sudan. The agenda focuses on issues of displacement and refugees. “Millions of people are starving in Sudan and have no protection against disease. Sadly, however, international audiences pay far too little attention to the drama which is unfolding in Sudan. For that reason it is vital that we draw attention to the catastrophic situation in Sudan and explore how to put the conditions in place for people to provide for themselves and look forward to a peaceful future in spite of the war,” Annen said before his visit.

A vicious war has been ongoing in Sudan since April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the militia of the Rapid Support Forces. With more than 12 million displaced persons, the conflict is the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. Annen will use his visit to Port Sudan to understand the humanitarian situation, German support and international cooperation aimed at helping suffering people there. He also plans to reaffirm Germany’s demands for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access in particular.

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16.01.2025: Baerbock on Gaza agreement: “Day of relief”

Berlin (dpa) - Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has expressed relief about the agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and on the release of hostages. “Today is a day of relief. Relief that the suffering on all sides can now end,” Baerbock said. 

She explained that the agreement between Israel and Hamas would save lives and give people in Gaza, the hostages and their families, as well as everyone in the region, hope after 15 months. “And it shows how important it is to never lose faith in diplomacy - even in the darkest hours,” added the minister, expressing her thanks to the negotiators.

Baerbock also urged compliance with the agreement. “I call on all sides to respect the provisions of the agreement. The hostages must be released quickly and in accordance with its terms. Humanitarian assistance must be provided on a massive scale to those suffering in Gaza. Likewise, the military withdrawal and the return of Palestinians to their homes must be implemented.”

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15.01.2025: Baltic conference: fighting sabotage attempts

Helsinki (dpa/d.de) - Germany and other NATO members on the Baltic have agreed a closely coordinated approach to prevent acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure. A joint statement issued by the participants after the summit in Helsinki to discuss security in the Baltic said, “We are determined to deter, detect and counter any attempts at sabotage. Any attack against our infrastructure will be met with a robust and determined response.” The statement also welcomed NATO’s creation of the “Baltic Sentry” vigilance activity to deter hostile activities in the Baltic. Commander Task Force-Baltic in Rostock has also been activated and coordinates Allied ships in the Baltic Sea. “We held a wide range of meetings and proposed to continue the discussions within the European Union and NATO,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the summit.
The spotlight is on cargo vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” which are used as a means of circumventing sanctions.

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15.01.2025: Germany supports investigation into war crimes in Syria

Minister of State Tobias Lindner, Syria Coordinator at the Foreign Office, has met the head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) Robert Petit. The IIIM was set up by the United Nations in 2016 as a mechanism to collect evidence of brutal crimes in Syria in order to document it and make it available for court proceedings. Thanks to the work of the IIIM, the German criminal justice system has been able to punish serious human rights abuses by the Assad regime in Germany under the principle of universal justice. The Foreign Office is providing 1 million euros of its funds as a short-term boost to the work of the IIIM.

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14.01.2025: Defence Minister Pistorius in Kyiv

Kyiv (dpa) - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in Kyiv for talks with the Ukrainian government to discuss further military support for the country’s defensive struggle against Russia. He also described his trip as a “signal that Germany, as the largest NATO member in Europe, stands at Ukraine’s side. Not alone, but rather with the Group of Five, and many other allies,” he said. Together with its four European partners Poland, France, the United Kingdom and Italy, Germany intends to undertake greater efforts to strengthen the Ukrainian arms industry. Previously, Pistorius had met with the defence ministers of the Group of Five in a suburb of the Polish capital Warsaw. The five countries want to jointly strengthen European security and defence readiness. 

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13.01.2025: Baerbock: sanctions against Syria could be relaxed

Riyadh (dpa) - Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has raised the prospect of relaxing EU sanctions on Syria from its long period under the rule of recently deposed dictator Bashar el-Assad. Speaking on a visit to an international conference in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, Baerbock said, “As the international community, we cannot let slip the chance of a future for Syria, despite all our well-founded scepticism. As Germany and Europe we are therefore taking the first concrete steps towards this goal.”

Baerbock also pledged additional aid to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria. Germany would provide an additional €50m to the World Food Programme and various NGOs for food, emergency accommodation and medical supplies, she said.

“The sanctions imposed on the Assad clan and his henchmen during the terrible civil war in Syria in response to their dreadful crimes must remain in place,” Baerbock went on. Germany’s Federal Government was urging the European Union to take a “smart approach”, she said, to provide rapid support to the Syrian people.

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10.01.2025: Germany’s Africa policy: forging partnerships together

Berlin (d.de) – Germany’s Federal Government has published the guidelines for its Africa policy. “Working together with Africa is essential if we are to master the challenges of a multipolar world,” the guidelines say (Image: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a trip to Africa in 2024). According to the Federal Foreign Ministry, close collaboration with Africa is indispensable to overcoming major global challenges such as climate change, pandemic prevention, and preserving peace and stability. To this end, Germany was extending offers of a partnership on the terms described in the guidelines. 

The Africa policy guidance sets out four priorities: 

1. working together to overcome global challenges 
2. sustainable growth, collaboration and greater sharing of ideas and experience between businesses, local value creation, and diversifying supply chains
3. reinforcing the resilience of democracy, education, science and innovation
4. promoting security, peace and sustainable stability

You can read the guidance (in German) here.

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09.01.2025: Scholz calls for respect for borders

Berlin (dpa) - Without mentioning the incoming US President Donal Trump by name, Federal Chancellor Scholz has stressed the principle of the inviolability of international borders. Scholz’s comments came after Trump raised the prospect of about expanding US territory to include Greenland (which belongs to Denmark), the Panama Canal and Canada. “Borders must not be moved by force,” Scholz said, and stressed that the principle of inviolability applied to all countries, regardless of whether they were in the East or the West. Scholz said his conversations with European partners had expressed a “degree of uncertainty” about certain comments from the USA. 

At a press conference in Florida on Tuesday, Trump refused to rule out the use of military force with regard to Greenland. On Wednesday, Scholz spoke by telephone to President of the European Council António Costa, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He has also spoken to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron. 

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08.01.2025: Government calls for clear EU rules against online hate speech

Las Vegas (dpa) - In light of the announcement by the Meta social media group to cease working with fact checkers in the USA, Germany’s Minister for Digital Volker Wissing has called for clear rules in the EU against hate speech and incitement online. Speaking during his visit to the CES technology show in Las Vegas, Wissing said he expected the European Commission to “take a very close look” at Meta’s proposal, and that the Commission should “scrutinise it carefully and take appropriate measures as necessary.” He said he had already discussed the issue with the EU’s new commissioner Henna Virkkunen. “I know she is taking these questions very seriously. She has my full confidence and support,” he said. The Facebook group Meta plans to lift restrictions on spreading false claims on its platforms and to cease using fact checkers in the USA.

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07.01.2024: Chancellor Scholz commemorates “Charlie Hebdo” attacks 

Berlin (dpa) - Ten years after the Islamist terror attack on the French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo”, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz commemorated the victims. The hashtag #JesuisCharlie went around the world in the aftermath of the “barbaric attack”, Scholz wrote. “Now as then we share the pain of our French friends. The attack took aim at our shared values of freedom and democracy, something we will never accept.” The attacks on 7 January 2015 and following days also targeted a female police officer and a kosher supermarket. A total of 17 people were killed. The attackers were shot dead by security forces. In the attacks on the “Charlie Hebdo” offices alone, two brothers killed twelve people. 

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06.01.2025: Baerbock: The EU will not provide financial support for the Islamisation of Syria.

Berlin/Damascus (dpa/d.de) – According to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the European Union will take a close look at the direction in which Syria is developing before deciding whether to support the country. After her visit to Syria, the Minister said that if after years of absolute oppression there was now a chance of a peaceful and free future for all, the EU would be there to help. “But of course the EU is not prepared to provide financial support for the Islamisation of Syria,” she added. 

“We now need a political dialogue involving all ethnic and religious groups, involving all people, especially including the women of this country,” said the Minister.

Baerbock travelled to Syria together with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on behalf of the EU just over four weeks after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. They were received by the de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. 

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03.01.2025: Baerbock and Barrot visit Syria

Larnaca/Damascus (dpa) – Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot are representing the EU on a visit to Syria, just under four weeks after the previous regime was overthrown. The two ministers will hold talks with representatives of the transitional government which has replaced the government under the dictator Bashar el-Assad. Before setting off, Baerbock outlined the conditions for the resumption of relations with Germany and the EU. “A fresh political start” was possible, she said, but the condition for this was that, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religious affiliation, all Syrians should have a place in the political process, with guarantees for their rights and protection against harm. Following almost 14 years of civil war large areas of Syria have been destroyed and over 16 million people depend on humanitarian aid. Almost one million refugees from Syria are currently living in Germany.

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02.01.2025: Germany digitises visa application process

Berlin (d.de) – Whether for work, study, training or family reunification – applications for German national visas can now be submitted to any visa centre worldwide via the so-called Consular Services Portal. In addition to saving long mail delivery times, this also reduces waiting times. The Federal Foreign Office has linked all 167 visa offices to the Consular Services Portal and digitised the relevant visa application processes for employment, study, training and family reunification.

“The digital visa procedure is a real administrative revolution that boosts Germany as a business hub,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. As one of the largest economies and a modern immigration country, Germany now had a national visa procedure that was fully up to date, said the Minister – “modern, digital, secure”.

Further development of the digitalised visa process will continue even after the global roll-out: the aim is to enable families, groups and proxies to submit joint digital applications.

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30.12.2024: Germany launches aid projects for Syria 

Berlin (dpa) – Following the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad, Germany has commissioned a number of aid projects totalling 60 million euros in Syria. “The humanitarian situation of the people in Syria is catastrophic,” said Development Minister Svenja Schulze in an interview, adding that large parts of the country had been destroyed after almost 14 years of civil war. Schulze said that 90 per cent of the population were living in poverty and were dependent on aid. It was still unclear how events would unfold in the country, said the Minister: “But there is now a window of opportunity to support positive development, so we should do everything we can to make the most of it,” said Schulze. She stressed that the planned projects would be implemented exclusively via UN aid organisations and non-governmental organisations, with 25 million euros going to the UN children’s aid organisation UNICEF, for example.

27.12.2024: Georgia: Baerbock wants consultations on suspension of the EU membership process

Berlin (dpa) – Due to the Georgian government’s anti-European stance and the violence against pro-European demonstrators, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is proposing talks on formal suspension of the EU membership process. The ruling Georgian Dream party had “deliberately put the membership process on hold with its anti-European shift” and thereby “effectively suspended it”, she said according to a statement issued by the Federal Foreign Office. “In the EU, we should now discuss formal suspension of the Georgian membership process due to the increasingly authoritarian policy being pursued by Georgian Dream,” the statement continues.

Baerbock emphasised that the award of EU candidate status in December 2023 was linked to “clear promises of reform”. “But instead of progress we’re seeing alarming regression.” As a consequence, the Federal Foreign Office has scaled back its cooperation with the authorities in the country, suspending support projects worth more than 200 million euros. Germany is also discussing further measures with its EU partners – according to Baerbock, these range from “the withdrawal of visa-free travel for Georgian officials to targeted sanctions”.

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23.12.2024: Baerbock warns of war between Turkey and Kurds 

Berlin (dpa) – Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has warned against a war between Turkey and the Kurds in Syria. “This is exactly what has to be avoided,” she said in an interview, adding that there would be no benefit to anyone if the terrorists of Islamic State (IS) were the ones to profit from a confrontation with the Kurds. This would pose a security threat to Syria, Turkey and Europe, said the Minister. Turkey has repeatedly launched military operations against the Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria in the past. Meanwhile, the Kurdish militia is an important partner to the USA in the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Baerbock noted that it was the Kurds in particular who had pushed back the IS, adding that Turkey “naturally” had legitimate security interests.

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20.12.2024: Scholz after phone call with Trump: killing in Ukraine must come to an end

Brussels (dpa) – Following his telephone conversation with future US President Donald Trump, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed confidence that Europe and the US will continue to pull together in their support for Ukraine. “But of course with the clear expectation that there will be a fair peace for Ukraine, enabling it to defend its sovereignty and putting an end to the killing,” added Scholz. “It is very clear to me that we must do everything we can to make this possible,” said the Federal Chancellor, noting that even with Trump as US President it would be necessary to coordinate Ukraine policy with the USA. “My impression is that this will be perfectly possible.”

Scholz once again expressed his opposition to the idea of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a possible ceasefire. He said that the concrete design of a security architecture “cannot really be reasonably discussed at present”. “But from our standpoint it is has to be structured along transatlantic lines, too,” he emphasised, adding that there had been “no discussion of ground troops or anything like that, because that is not an issue at all”.

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19.12.2024: Baerbock emphasises the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity

Berlin (dpa) – Following the fall of the Assad regime, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on all sections of the population to participate in the renewal process in Syria. In order to ensure a peaceful transition, the rights of all ethnic and religious communities must be taken into account, said Baerbock in the Bundestag.

She also warned against undermining the Syrian dialogue process from the outside: “If we want peace in the region, the territorial integrity of Syria must not be called into question,” said the Minister. “Permanent occupation of the Golan violates international law." Following the uprising in the neighbouring country, Israel’s army invaded the buffer zone to Syria on the Golan Heights and is apparently considering long-term control of the area.

Baerbock also announced that this week she would be travelling to Turkey, which likewise shares a border with Syria. The Minister paid tribute to the role of the Kurds in the fight against the Assad regime while again emphasising the need to involve all sections of the population. “I will make this very, very clear again during my visit to Turkey on Friday.”

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18.12.2024: German delegation meets rebel leader in Syria

Berlin (dpa) - German diplomats have initiated direct contacts with the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus. “The talks focused on the political transition process and our expectations with regard to protecting minorities and women’s rights in order to be able to support peaceful development in Syria,” the German Federal Foreign Office said. The German delegation is led by Tobias Tunkel, the Middle East Representative of the Federal Foreign Office.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, the talks in the Syrian capital also involved the HTS representative responsible for international contacts and the education minister of the transitional government. There had also been meetings with representatives of civil society and religious communities. The visit also included an “initial inspection of the German embassy building in Damascus”.

Before the talks, the Federal Foreign Office had stressed that there would be close scrutiny of the actions of HTS and the transitional government the group has installed. “Any cooperation requires that ethnic and religious minorities be protected and that women’s rights be upheld.” 

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17.12.2024: Germany: 50 years of strengthening food security 

Berlin (d.de) - As a founder member and major funder of the CGIAR agricultural research network, Germany has been contributing to the development of innovative solutions to global challenges such as hunger, poverty and climate change since the 1970s. Germany has been a steadfast provider of funding for international agricultural research and the CGIAR network since its creation 50 years ago in 1974. According to information provided by the Development Ministry, new varieties adapted to the climate have been developed. The latest maize varieties are contributing $1 billion annually to the economies of the countries in Africa where they are cultivated. Some 36 million farmers are applying methods that preserve resources to maintain soil fertility and reduce carbon emissions. In the long-term, increased yields from sustainable farming practices and new crop varieties are expected to generate value equivalent to 47 billion US dollars annually. According to the Development Ministry, this would improve food security and living conditions around the world.

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16/12/2024: Steinmeier becomes first German President to visit Lesotho

Maseru (dpa.d/de) – During his four-day visit to Nigeria and South Africa, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Lesotho at the invitation of King Letsie III (photo). This was the first time a German head of state has visited the kingdom. Steinmeier pointed to the high levels of poverty in the country, adding that “Anyone who looks around here can see how vital it is for us to look after this country.” He referred to examples such as giving young people opportunities to enter vocational education. Germany is also contributing to a water management project. In political terms, Steinmeier said, Lesotho was closer to Germany on some issues than South Africa. “From the outset, Lesotho has condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said.

Lesotho depends heavily on its major neighbour South Africa, which completely encircles the kingdom. Many people work there, such as in the mining industry. The kingdom is around the same size as the German state of Brandenburg. It has a population of 2.3 million and an unemployment rate of over 30%. Lesotho’s economy is based on agriculture and the exports of textiles, diamonds and water.

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13.12.2024: Baerbock calls for security guarantees for Ukraine

Berlin (dpa) – Germany and other European countries are insisting on security guarantees should there be negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. “Ukraine needs rigorous security guarantees. As Europeans, we need robust security guarantees without any gaps,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. “This includes long-term military and financial support for Ukraine,” added the Minister. 

Ahead of deliberations by a group of representatives from France, Poland, Italy, Spain and the UK, Baerbock said: “We must not only think big for our common security but also act big and make the various instruments available that will be required for this purpose.

With regard to the situation in Syria after the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad, Baerbock spoke of a lengthy process towards normalisation – “there are still a lot of obstacles along this path”, she said.

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12.12.2024: Germany increases humanitarian assistance for Syria 

Berlin (dpa) – Following the ousting of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the German government wants to step up its engagement in Syria. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has appointed Minister of State Tobias Lindner as special coordinator for Syria. She has announced additional humanitarian assistance worth eight million euros. The minister has also offered Germany’s help with eliminating chemical weapons. “We now have the chance to keep the world safe from Assad’s chemical weapons once and for all,” she said. 

During a trip to Jordan and Iraq, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that Europe and Germany could and should “not allow themselves to be just spectators”. He urged for the new leaders in Syria to be given a chance. He raised the prospect of Germany stepping up its engagement in the region, if this were desired. 

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11.12.2024: Franco-German Prize for Human Rights awarded

To mark International Human Rights Day yesterday, Germany and France announced the fourteen winners of this year’s Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

The prizewinners come from different countries and regions, including Israel and the Palestinian Territories. They head non-governmental organisations and are lawyers, journalists or activists working to defend the inalienable rights of each and every human being. “The prizewinners stand up for those whose voices would often not be heard without them. Under the most difficult conditions they often risk their own freedom, frequently even their lives, to defend human rights in conflicts and strengthen women and the rights of LSBTIQ+ people,” reads a statement from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.

Since 2016, France and Germany have used International Human Rights Day as an opportunity to jointly pay tribute to individuals around the world who have shown outstanding commitment to promoting human rights. 

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10.12.2024: Baerbock: Protecting people in Syria and promoting the peace process 

Berlin (dpa) – Following the end of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has warned against jumping to conclusions about the security situation in the country. After this initial sigh of relief for the people in Syria, she said, everything had to be done to ensure that the people on the ground were protected and that the peace process could progress. After all: “Nobody can foresee now or in the next few days how things will continue in Syria and what recent developments mean in terms of security policy,” said Baerbock, also noting that it was not clear “whether more people will flee the region because other extremists are now causing trouble, or whether people will be able to return to Syria.” 

09.12.2024: Support for the poorest: IDA replenishment reaches record sum

Seoul (d.de) - After a year of intense negotiations, the 21st replenishment cycle of the World Bank’s IDA fund has come to an end in the South Korean capital Seoul: thanks to donor contributions totalling 23.7 billion US dollars, the IDA - the world’s most important provider of finance for the poorest countries - will be able to invest the record sum of 100 billion US dollars in sustainable development over the coming three years. Contributing around 1.62 billion euros, Germany ranks fourth in the list of 59 donor countries. 

“Germany’s contribution is an expression of our solidarity with the poorest countries and of our reliability in the international group of donors. The record result shows the power of multilateral cooperation even in tense geopolitical times,” said German Development Minister Svenja Schulze. 

Furthermore, the 137 IDA member states have agreed to new political targets. They intend to invest more in protecting the environment and the climate, in empowering girls and women, in peace and security and in mobilising the private sector.

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06.12.2024: German military deployments abroad to be extended

Frankfurt am Main (d.de/BMVg) – The Federal Cabinet has given the green light to the ongoing deployment of German armed forces in international missions to the Mediterranean and South Sudan. The Bundestag is expected to approve the extensions before the upcoming general elections. The deployments are to be extended until 31 October 2025.

Through its contribution to the EU-led EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation in the Red Sea, the Bundeswehr is protecting shipping on key trade routes against Houthi militia attacks. The maximum number of personnel which can be deployed is expected to remain unchanged at 700.

As a partner in the UN UNMISS mission in South Sudan, the Bundeswehr is helping to stabilise the region. Up to 50 military personnel carry out various functions such as staff roles in the UN headquarters in Juba and as military observers, and also by contributing their expertise on tasks involving communication, advice and support.

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05.12.2024: Baerbock committed to strong and effective OSCE

Valletta (d.de/AA/dpa) – The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is travelling to Malta on 5 and 6 December for the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The meeting will focus on the situation in Ukraine.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has shaken security and order in Europe and plunged millions of people into dire need. This is why support for Ukraine is at the top of the agenda for this year’s OSCE meeting of foreign ministers. Representatives of 57 states from North America to Central Asia will meet in the Maltese capital Valetta to discuss ways of restoring security in Europe.

The organisation has been in a state of crisis since the war began. Russia has vetoed many key decisions which require consensus. The other member states accuse Moscow of constantly undermining and blocking the work of the OSCE. At the meeting Germany is committed to ensuring that the Russian blockade does not further undermine the effectiveness of the OSCE. 

Despite these difficulties, the OSCE has achieved major successes in 2024 such as by intensifying project work in Central Asia and Eastern Europe and the ongoing monitoring of human rights violations in Russia and Belarus. Germany has provided voluntary contributions worth over 17 million euros to ensure that vital projects related to human rights, security and fighting corruption can be continued. 

Find out more about Germany’s work to promote peace and security. Foreign police - commitment to peace and security | Facts about Germany

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04.12.2024: Habeck extends offer of closer collaboration with Africa

Nairobi (dpa) - Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck has offered closer cooperation with African countries and called on them to create the right conditions to do so. “German investors need a safe and stable environment for their investments,” said the Minster at the opening of the 5th German-African Business Summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. This was fundamental both to investment, he said, and to the lives of people in African countries. Habeck noted that only 1% of German foreign investment went to Africa and that there was the potential for more. At the same time, the Economic Affairs Minister encouraged young skilled workers from Africa to come to Germany under the more relaxed opportunities for migration.

Held every two years, the German-African Business Summit is Germany’s key business conference in Africa. This year the event was attended by 800 delegates from 35 African countries and Germany.

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03.12.2024: Germany at the global land and drought conference in Saudi Arabia

Berlin (d.de) - Two hundred countries have sent delegations to the 16th conference on land and drought in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The German delegation to the conference of signatories to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is led by Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Germany’s key goals for the conference include improving protections for land rights and boosting participation for women and young people with regard to access to land, protection activities and land restoration. Germany is also seeking to ensure women and young people have a voice in decisions concerning land use, from the national level down to individual communities. 

“Keeping the soil in good condition makes food production, development and prosperity possible. That requires funding. However, states must also put the financial, policy and regulatory conditions in place to allow local people to invest in their own land and farm it sustainably.” Desertification and droughts are rapidly growing challenges around the world, as degradation already affects up to 40% of the world’s land areas. The UN climate secretariat is based in Bonn in Germany. 

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02.12.2024: Habeck attends German-African Business Summit in Kenya 

Berlin (d.de) - Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck is representing Germany at the 5th German-African Business Summit, which he will open on 03 December. In addition to talks with high-ranking representatives of the Kenyan government, the itinerary for Habeck’s four-day visit includes meetings to promote German-Kenyan economic ties. The focus is on renewable energy, training skilled workers, start-ups and the digital economy. Habeck is accompanied by a delegation of business leaders and members of the Bundestag.

The German-African Business Summit is Germany’s key business occasion in Africa. It is supported by SAFRI, an initiative of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) to promote business with sub-Saharan Africa. Every two years the summit brings together leading representatives of government and industry from Germany and Africa. 

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29.11.2024: Germany and European partners hold talks with Iran

Geneva (dpa) - Against the background of the recent growth in tensions, Germany, France and the United Kingdom held talks with Iran in Geneva on Friday. According to Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani, reappraising bilateral relations and the Middle East conflict were the focus of the talks. She added that Iran’s controversial nuclear programme and the possible resumption of nuclear negotiations would also be on the agenda. 
Germany is being represented by Günter Sautter, Political Director of the Foreign Office. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minster Majid Takht-Ravanchi is also travelling to Geneva for the talks. One of the priorities for Western diplomats in Geneva is to set out their positions and avoid escalation.

Four weeks ago the German ambassador to Iran, Markus Potzel (photo) was recalled to return to Berlin following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German citizen. Potzel has now returned to Tehran “to emphasise our concerns at a high level there,” as a spokesperson from the Federal Foreign Office said.

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28.11.2024: Germany and Turkey intensify energy transition cooperation 

Berlin (dpa) - Berlin and Turkey plan to expand their collaboration on renewable energy. “The time to act has come,” said Federal Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck at the 6th German-Turkish Energy Forum in Berlin “We have made huge progress in recent years and Turkey has great plans to decarbonise its industrial sector,” said Turkey’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.He added that the energy sector was a key pillar of the collaboration between the two countries. He also proposed a minerals partnership. 

Numerous businesses agreed collaborations at the forum. For example, the German wind power firm Enercon joined with the Turkish project development specialists İş Enerji and Polat Enerji to announce their plans to supply and install wind turbines to generate up to 2500MW in Turkey and neighbouring countries. 

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27.11.2024 Baerbock: Ceasefire in Lebanon “ray of hope for the whole region” 

Berlin (dpa) - Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has described the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah as a “ray of hope for the whole region”. Hundreds of thousands of women, children and families in Lebanon draw fresh hope, as could tens of thousands of people in Northern Israel, Baerbock said in Berlin. “The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah shows what can be achieved by diplomatic means,” she added. “We also urgently need a ceasefire in Gaza so that the German and other hostages can at last be released and to put an end at last to the starvation and suffering of hundreds of thousands of women, children and men.”

Baerbock said that the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 was essential to the long-term resolution of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Passed in 2006, the resolution is designed to create a buffer zone in south Lebanon. 

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