WEBVTT 00:00:04.402 --> 00:00:09.952 Berlin - capital of the Federal Republic of Germany and seat of the German government 00:00:15.463 --> 00:00:18.211 Since the government moved from Bonn to Berlin 00:00:18.211 --> 00:00:24.113 the metropolis on the River Spree has become one of Europe's foremost political centres. 00:00:25.353 --> 00:00:30.002 The Federal Chancellery is at the heart of Berlin in the government district. 00:00:30.562 --> 00:00:33.872 This is where Angela Merkel conducts the business of government. 00:00:51.752 --> 00:00:54.753 The Federal Chancellery at Willy-Brandt-Straße 1 00:00:54.753 --> 00:00:59.653 was designed by architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank. 00:00:59.653 --> 00:01:04.903 Its unique form is intended to symbolise democratic Germany. 00:01:06.353 --> 00:01:12.304 In May 2001, after almost four years of construction work, the new Chancellery was officially opened. 00:01:18.432 --> 00:01:22.632 It is part of a band of federal buildings 00:01:22.632 --> 00:01:26.782 linking what used to be East and West Berlin across the River Spree, 00:01:26.782 --> 00:01:30.031 including two buildings that belong to the German parliament 00:01:30.031 --> 00:01:33.533 the Paul Löbe House and the Marie Elisabeth Lüders House. 00:01:36.941 --> 00:01:41.873 Two long administrative wings lead off to the right and left of the main building 00:01:41.873 --> 00:01:44.376 offering space for 370 offices. 00:01:46.624 --> 00:01:49.813 The glassed-in courtyards and the glass facades provide natural light, 00:01:49.813 --> 00:01:53.813 but above all they give an impression of transparency. 00:01:57.063 --> 00:02:03.372 The ensemble is 36 metres high and 335 metres long. 00:02:03.622 --> 00:02:10.373 The bridge across the River Spree leads to the Chancellery Park and adjacent helipad. 00:02:10.373 --> 00:02:16.380 Sometimes the Chancellor uses a federal police or Bundeswehr helicopter. 00:02:23.374 --> 00:02:27.265 The first preparations for the day begin early. 00:02:27.265 --> 00:02:32.762 Most of the 700 or so staff members are busy behind the scenes. 00:03:04.662 --> 00:03:08.162 The Federal Chancellery is divided into seven Directorates-General. 00:03:08.412 --> 00:03:13.912 They are pivotal to the Federal Chancellery and liaise with all federal ministries. 00:03:13.912 --> 00:03:19.913 They advise the Chancellor and the Head of the Federal Chancellery in all policy fields. 00:03:19.913 --> 00:03:23.912 Directorate-General 1 is responsible for home affairs and justice. 00:03:23.912 --> 00:03:27.913 2 handles foreign, security and development policy. 00:03:27.913 --> 00:03:33.914 3's mandate covers social, health, labour market, infrastructure and societal policy. 00:03:33.914 --> 00:03:37.165 4 deals with economic, financial and energy policy. 00:03:37.165 --> 00:03:39.162 5 handles European policy. 00:03:39.412 --> 00:03:45.165 The remit of Directorate-General 6 covers political planning, innovation and digital policy, 00:03:45.165 --> 00:03:47.912 as well as strategic IT management, 00:03:47.912 --> 00:03:51.443 while Directorate-General 7 coordinates the Federal Intelligence Service. 00:03:51.443 --> 00:03:55.443 Helge Braun: The Federal Chancellery holds the whole government together 00:03:55.443 --> 00:04:00.193 which is why it has individual divisions, 00:04:00.691 --> 00:04:04.448 each one of which is responsible for one federal ministry. 00:04:04.448 --> 00:04:07.693 As Head of the Federal Chancellery, it is my job 00:04:07.693 --> 00:04:11.692 to broker agreements between individual ministries, 00:04:11.945 --> 00:04:15.953 to coordinate the work of the federal and state-level governments, 00:04:15.953 --> 00:04:19.352 to address international challenges. 00:04:19.352 --> 00:04:23.103 Then I support the Chancellor 00:04:23.103 --> 00:04:25.101 and help find the right solution, 00:04:25.352 --> 00:04:30.852 which is then implemented under the authority of the Chancellor. 00:04:30.852 --> 00:04:32.512 Another exciting thing about the Federal Chancellery is 00:04:32.762 --> 00:04:39.762 that we are involved in political planning and strategic forecasting. 00:04:40.012 --> 00:04:44.513 So as well as dealing with today, we also look forward to tomorrow 00:04:44.513 --> 00:04:48.727 and consider very carefully where our country should be heading. 00:04:48.727 --> 00:04:54.226 Digitalisation for the future? How can we retain our prosperity? How can we protect our climate? 00:04:54.226 --> 00:04:59.153 It is fascinating to work here - and help map out the strategy for the way forward. 00:05:00.754 --> 00:05:04.401 Once a week the television lights go on in the Cabinet room. 00:05:06.431 --> 00:05:12.583 The Cabinet meets here to discuss topical issues and approve bills. 00:05:12.583 --> 00:05:21.083 In the middle of the table stands a four-sided clock - a present from Konrad Adenauer to his own Cabinet ministers. 00:05:21.083 --> 00:05:27.832 Beside it is an old bell that is only rung a the start of a new legislative period. 00:05:29.572 --> 00:05:35.367 All 15 Cabinet ministers sit around the table with the Chancellor, 00:05:35.367 --> 00:05:39.118 the federal government spokesperson and the ministers of state. 00:05:39.118 --> 00:05:45.612 Annette Widmann-Mauz is the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration. 00:05:45.612 --> 00:05:49.114 Monika Grütters is Minister of State for Culture and the Media. 00:05:49.114 --> 00:05:53.119 Their colleague Dorothee Bär deals with digitalisation. 00:05:53.119 --> 00:05:57.613 Hendrik Hoppenstedt coordinates cooperation between federal and state-level governments. 00:05:57.613 --> 00:06:03.113 61 00:06:04,293 --> 00:06:07,623 The Head of the Federal Chancellery issues the invitations to Cabinet meetings 00:06:07.623 --> 00:06:09.372 and draws up the agenda. 00:06:12.632 --> 00:06:16.253 Angela Merkel's office is on the seventh floor. 00:06:16.253 --> 00:06:21.257 She moved into this office when she was elected Chancellor in 2005 by the Bundestag. 00:06:21.257 --> 00:06:24.744 I particularly liked the size of the room, 00:06:24.744 --> 00:06:27.992 because I had never had such a huge office 00:06:28.242 --> 00:06:31.997 with such an amazing view over to Tiergarten and to the Reichstag building. 00:06:31.997 --> 00:06:37.493 I found the enormous desk itself a little off-putting, so I decided 00:06:37.493 --> 00:06:41.243 to do my normal work at this table. 00:06:41.243 --> 00:06:47.544 I only sit at the desk when I speak on the phone to foreign leaders. 00:06:52.642 --> 00:06:57.093 This is Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor, painted by Oskar Kokoschka 00:06:57.093 --> 00:07:00.593 It is a very intensive painting. 00:07:00.593 --> 00:07:05.793 Every day it reminds me of the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, 00:07:06.043 --> 00:07:08.042 which we are carrying forward today. 00:07:09.122 --> 00:07:12.761 This photo recalls the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 00:07:12.761 --> 00:07:17.011 My political work is inextricably interwoven with German reunification 00:07:17.011 --> 00:07:19.516 and was only made possible by the fall of the Berlin Wall. 00:07:19.516 --> 00:07:23.262 In addition to the enormous courage shown by the East German people, 00:07:23.262 --> 00:07:31.054 wise statesmen like Helmut Kohl, George Bush Senior and Mikhail Gorbatchev made it possible 00:07:31.054 --> 00:07:35.565 for us to live today as a peaceful, democratic, united nation. 00:07:35.565 --> 00:07:37.315 And this photo reminds us of that. 00:07:37.315 --> 00:07:40.412 I really like the view from my office. 00:07:40.412 --> 00:07:44.063 And the view across to the Reichstag is obviously a permanent reminder. 00:07:44.063 --> 00:07:47.816 I see it from my office, we see it from the Cabinet room, and we are reminded, 00:07:47.816 --> 00:07:56.313 that the real legislative power is vested in parliament and that we, the government, execute the laws. 86 00:07:59,662 --> 00:08:02,232 The fourth floor - the situation and crisis centre. 00:08:02.232 --> 00:08:05.383 It is manned round the clock. 00:08:07.302 --> 00:08:12.052 Day and night staff evaluate newsfeeds from around the world, and update the Chancellor, 00:08:12.052 --> 00:08:17.053 the Head of the Federal Chancellery, and close advisors on developments. 00:08:26.701 --> 00:08:28.956 The Bundeswehr military band arrives. 00:08:32.092 --> 00:08:36.942 In step, the guard of honour marches into the Courtyard of Honour in front of the main entrance. 00:08:36.942 --> 00:08:41.943 Almost every week the Chancellor welcomes foreign state visitors here. 00:08:41.943 --> 00:08:48.696 The visitors are welcomed with military honours if they have just taken office or been re-elected. 00:08:48.949 --> 00:08:53.692 It is a symbol of respect and follows strict protocol. 00:08:55.592 --> 00:08:58.594 "Order arms!" 00:09:24.551 --> 00:09:27.853 Interpreters are indispensable at international meetings. 00:09:28.104 --> 00:09:33.102 Without them the state visitor and the Chancellor could not converse, each using their own language. 00:09:35.383 --> 00:09:38.503 "Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon…" 00:09:38.503 --> 00:09:40.475 To make sure everything works smoothly, 00:09:40.475 --> 00:09:44.622 the interpreters' booths were integrated directly in the small Cabinet room. 00:09:49.728 --> 00:09:51.979 Preparations for a working dinner 00:09:52.253 --> 00:09:55.902 Most state visitors also dine at the Federal Chancellery. 00:09:55.902 --> 00:09:59.902 The Chancellery has its own kitchen to cater for them. 00:10:12.943 --> 00:10:16.083 Most working lunches and dinners take place on the eighth floor 00:10:16.334 --> 00:10:20.833 and offer an excellent opportunity for in-depth discussions. 00:10:25.681 --> 00:10:29.585 The press zone - well known to journalists 00:10:32.283 --> 00:10:36.633 This is where the Chancellor and her visitor inform the press about the outcome of their talks 00:10:36.633 --> 00:10:39.134 and answer questions. 00:10:39.633 --> 00:10:44.321 Angela Merkel: "We discussed the common challenge posed by demographic change 00:10:44.321 --> 00:10:47.133 particularly in the context of …" 00:10:47.133 --> 00:10:51.852 The federal eagle on one lectern indicates where the Chancellor will stand. 00:10:55.302 --> 00:10:58.453 But the Federal Chancellery is not only open to state visitors. 00:10:59.514 --> 00:11:04.252 On the annual Open Day everyone can take a look behind the scenes. 00:11:07.603 --> 00:11:12.252 Angela Merkel: "I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our visitors 00:11:12.503 --> 00:11:16.508 at this Federal Chancellery Open Day!" 00:11:19.853 --> 00:11:24.254 Traditionally the winners of the young scientist competition "Jugend forscht" are also invited to the Federal Chancellery. 00:11:24.254 --> 00:11:27.983 As well as presenting the prize for the most original entry, 00:11:27.983 --> 00:11:32.482 the Chancellor answers many of the young scientists' questions. 00:11:38.848 --> 00:11:41.513 And on "Girls Day" girls have the chance to go into German companies and 120 00:11:42,012 --> 00:11:45,261 find out more about practical, technical and scientific career options. 00:11:46.774 --> 00:11:50.632 Every year Angela Merkel kicks off Girls Day with an invitation to the Federal Chancellery. 00:11:52.783 --> 00:11:54.882 She is also patron of "startsocial". 00:11:54.882 --> 00:12:02.791 This annual nationwide competition encourages civic engagement, with cash prizes and expert advice to be won. 00:12:06.263 --> 00:12:10.412 There is a permanent exhibition on the ground floor open to all visitors, 00:12:10.412 --> 00:12:12.915 which displays state gifts from all over the world. 00:12:13.412 --> 00:12:18.324 They include a reproduction of John F. Kennedy's notes 00:12:18.324 --> 00:12:24.824 for his legendary "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. 00:12:29.673 --> 00:12:33.828 Art at the Federal Chancellery is much more than a decoration. 00:12:33.828 --> 00:12:39.322 It reflects contemporary artistic trends and provides food for thought. 00:12:39.322 --> 00:12:44.828 One example is Eduardo Chillida's 90-ton iron sculpture "Berlin". 00:12:44.828 --> 00:12:49.073 It represents unification and division. 00:12:49.073 --> 00:12:54.078 The Chancellor's Gallery was originally the idea of former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. 00:12:54.672 --> 00:12:58.223 The portraits of the seven former Chancellors can be seen here - 00:12:58.473 --> 00:13:01.473 from Gerhard Schröder to Konrad Adenauer. 00:13:14.793 --> 00:13:18.449 The Federal Chancellery has become a symbol 00:13:19.772 --> 00:13:25.671 of an open, diverse, democratic Germany at the heart of Berlin 00:13:25.671 --> 00:13:29.774 and at the heart of Europe.