Berlin “unexpectedly wants to join the initiative of the 12 Eastern European EU member states, to help stop the dissolution of Europe,” reports DPA. Heiko Maas, who was present at the Three Seas summit in Bucharest, calls this “Germany’s new Eastern policy.”
He believes, that it would be an “important signal within the EU” that a country such as Germany would look not only to the West but also to the East of Europe.
Germany wants to be a bridgebuilder and moderator in the spirit of European unity
Maas is the first representative of the German government to take part in the Three Seas Initiative summit. He was invited by Romanian president Klaus Iohannis.
The chief of German diplomacy is asking for a permanent membership in the Three Seas for Germany – “We want to use this forum, especially in the future, to take part in the discussions led by our Easter European neighbors.”
Morawiecki did not mention Germany
Iohannis as well as the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker have supported Germany’s application. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki did not mention Germany in his speech. A unanimous vote from all members is needed for a country to be allowed to join the initiative.
Maas underlined that Germany “fits into the Three Seas Initiative” not only due to geographic location, but also due to historic, political and economic factors. He drew attention to the fact that Germany is a strategic economic partner of every Three Seas member state. It would also allow Western and Southern EU members to give more attention to their Eastern partners. “Germany wants to be a bridgebuilder and moderator in the spirit of European unity,” said Maas.
