Berlin, 22 January 2024: It was hands on for Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz at International Green Week on Monday. On a tour of the trade fair he was able to gain an impression of the efficiency and innovative strength of the agriculture, forestry and food industry.
Scholz then attended the official mourning ceremony in the Bundestag to mark the death of Wolfgang Schäuble. The CDU politician died on 26 December 2023 aged 81. Wolfgang Schäuble was a key political figure in the Federal Republic of Germany in his various roles as a member of parliament and President of the Bundestag, as well as in various ministerial positions. He was a member of parliament from 1972 until his death – longer than anyone else before him.
That evening, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to the Federal Chancellery. Talks focused on preparations for the special meeting of the European Council, which is due to be held in Brussels on 1 February.
The fourth top-level meeting of the Alliance for Transformation took place in Berlin on Tuesday, 23 January 2024. The Alliance is a dialogue forum that serves as a platform for engaging with social partners, academia, associations, civil society and businesses. This time the focus was on the circular economy and how Germany can “become less dependent on imports of key raw materials by recycling more”, as Scholz said at the post-event press conference with Yasmin Fahimi, Chair of the DGB, Tanja Gönner, Managing Director of the BDI, Kai Niebert, President of Deutscher Naturschutzring, and Thomas Weber, President of acatech.
In the evening, the Federal Chancellor spoke at the business summit organised by the national German daily newspaper DIE WELT on current economic and financial policy issues.
Berlin, 24 January 2024: On Wednesday evening, the Federal Chancellor received Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico for his inaugural visit to the Federal Chancellery. Scholz emphasised that the aim was to further expand cooperation between the two countries.
Eschweiler, 25 January 2024: On Thursday the Federal Chancellor visited St Antonius Hospital, which was directly affected by the flood disaster in July 2021. Scholz was impressed by what the hospital had achieved during and after the flood disaster and thanked all the dedicated men and women he had the opportunity to meet during his visit. He said they had done great work for the health of local citizens.
Berlin, 26 January 2024: At the “Alliance of Opportunities” network meeting on Friday, the Federal Chancellor was keen to stress that the Federal Government was supporting businesses in coping with the changes that were happening in the world of work.
The Federal Chancellor later attended the fourth meeting of the Future Council, which he himself established. The purpose of these meetings is to exchange ideas with business and industry on issues of future innovation policy. On this occasion the focus was on the application and development of generative artificial intelligence.
In the evening, the Federal Chancellor received the national U17 football team at the Federal Chancellery, taking the opportunity to convey in person his appreciation and respect for the talented young players who won the World Cup in December 2023.