Thursday, December 9th, 2021
Stations in Paris and Brussels
This is how Baerbock’s first inaugural visits went
Difficult issues are on the agenda for the new Foreign Minister in Paris and Brussels: In addition to the conflict with Russia, there is the question of a European line for sustainable energy. In between, Baerbock finds time for personal moments.
The new German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has sworn to European unity and Franco-German friendship. Europe is “the linchpin of German foreign policy,” said the Green politician at the start of a whole series of inaugural visits at a joint appearance with her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris. “To achieve this, a strong Europe needs strong Franco-German impulses.” In the Ukraine crisis, she warned Russia of the serious consequences of a further escalation.
After meeting Le Drian, Baerbock took the Thalys high-speed train to Brussels. There she exchanged ideas with the EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell. She then met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US Climate Commissioner John Kerry, EU Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans and EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson. Baerbock brings responsibility for international climate protection from the environmental ministry to its ministry. That is one of the reasons why the meetings with the Kerry and Timmermans were important to her. On Friday, Baerbock wants to fly to Warsaw for an inaugural visit to her Polish colleague Zbigniew Rau.
In addition to discussing the current crises, the first woman at the head of the Foreign Office also uses the Paris visit for a few private moments. On the way from the French Foreign Ministry on the Quai d’Orsay to the Gare du Nord, the Thalys train station, the 40-year-old has her convoy of vehicles stop briefly on a Seine bridge to take photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background. These are only for her two daughters, she said at the spontaneous stop. Then the drivers with Baerbock make a little detour past the world-famous Louvre. In the train station she stops with two pianists before getting on the train.
During her appearance with Le Drian, Baerbock said that Europe would be weaker if Germany did not invest in relations between Paris and Berlin. Le Drian stated that he was pleased to continue “with Annalena” the trusting relationship he had with her predecessor Heiko Maas. The relationship between the foreign ministers is “a bit of the treasure trove of the Franco-German relationship in the service of Europe”.
“Green” nuclear power is the subject of controversy
Despite the exuberant tones, Baerbock stuck to the rejection of the French plans to classify nuclear power as “green” energy. “It is well known that we have different positions on the nuclear issue,” she said. The subject of so-called taxonomy is being discussed at all levels, including between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron and at the European level in Brussels. Scholz wants to visit Macron on Friday for the inaugural visit.
It is still particularly controversial in the EU whether nuclear power and gas can also be considered sustainable. France, together with countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, wants to label nuclear power as “green” at all costs. Germany, Luxembourg and Austria, among others, are strictly against it.
In the escalating conflict in Ukraine, Baerbock threatened Russia with serious consequences if it escalated. “Russia would pay a high political and, above all, economic price for a renewed violation of Ukrainian statehood.” Military escalation must be avoided. Solutions can only be found through diplomatic channels, said Baerbock. You and Le Drian are ready to get deeply involved personally.
Borrell warned Russia of an attack on Ukraine during a joint appearance with Baerbock. In support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, they are ready to use “all available instruments”. Ways to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience are also being explored. One of the discussions in the EU is sending military instructors to Ukraine. Severe new economic sanctions are seen as a possible reaction by the EU to a Russian attack on Ukraine.
“NATO needs a strong Germany”
Baerbock said: “We have underlined our common solidarity with Ukraine.” Stoltenberg and Baerbock appealed to Russia to return to deliberations in the NATO-Russia Council, which has been on hold for a long time. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has worsened in the past few weeks. The US accuses Russia of deploying troops not far from the border with Ukraine. A Russian invasion of the ex-Soviet republic is feared in the West. Russia rejects that.
In Brussels, Baerbock said that more strategic sovereignty for Europe vis-à-vis Russia and China, for example, means “that we seek cooperation wherever possible and step up independent action where it is necessary”. This is “not just a military question, but above all a question of diplomacy, the rule of law and strong economic cooperation in the European Union”. Meanwhile, Stoltenberg appealed to Baerbock to work for a militarily strong Germany. “NATO needs a strong Germany, politically and militarily,” he said.