Berlin, 13 June 2022: The week began with a working breakfast with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace.
Next there was a trip to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for a meeting with the state premiers of the eastern German Länder on the island of Riems.
Among other things, an agreement was reached that a coordination agency was to be set up to jointly represent the interests of the Länder in eastern Germany with regard to hydrogen research. In their Riems declaration, the Länder of eastern Germany express their will to be independent of Russian energy sources.
In the evening, the guard of honour of the Federal Armed Forces provided a military welcome for Eduard Heger, Prime Minister of Slovakia.
The meeting focused on the dramatic situation in Ukraine and the further development of the European Union.
Berlin, 14 June 2022: On Tuesday, the go-ahead was given for the “Alliance for Transformation”.
Conceived as a forum involving leaders from business, trade unions, the associations, academia and civil society, the Alliance is to serve as a medium for dialogue on framework conditions for Germany’s transformation process.
“The fight against these crimes can only be won if we work together – both within Europe and worldwide.” This was the message stressed by the Federal Chancellor in his speech at a meeting of the Financial Action Task Force, which aims to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing.
Berlin, 15 June 2022: On Wednesday, Federal Chancellor Scholz presented the special postage stamp for the G7 Presidency together with Federal Finance Minister Lindner. This year the Federal Ministry of Finance is issuing 52 special postage stamps on aspects of German history and culture.
Kyiv, 16 June 2022: On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Romanian President Klaus Johannis and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz travelled to Ukraine for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.
Before that, the Federal Chancellor visited the war-ravaged Kyiv suburb of Irpin. The destruction in Irpin was a “sobering reminder” that something needed to be done, he said during the visit.
Berlin, 17 June 2022: At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, the Federal Chancellor attended the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate via video link on Friday.
In Tutzing by Lake Starnberg, Federal Chancellor Scholz took part in the summer conference “The Future of Our Democracy” organised by the Political Club of the Protestant Academy of Tutzing, chaired by former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse.
“At this turning point in history in particular, we have to have a thorough discussion about the future of our democracy,” said the Federal Chancellor in his speech. “Our” democracy – here in Germany and Europe – would only succeed and flourish to the extent that democracy succeeded and flourished worldwide too, said the Federal Chancellor.