Germany wants to work more closely with the countries of Eastern Europe. Heiko Maas has even applied for inclusion in the previously skeptical eyed Club of the “Three-oceans-Initiative”. From Bucharest, Fabian von der Mark.
Heiko Maas (R) talks with Slovak President Andrej Kiska on the sidelines of the summit of the Three-oceans-Initiative
Of a “new Ostpolitik” said Federal foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Romania and uses the Meeting of the Three seas-the Initiative to advertise in Eastern Europe for Germany. It is the third Meeting of the twelve EU countries, which lie between the Adriatic sea, the Baltic sea and the Black sea. For the first Time that Germany takes part, and when it comes to Heiko Maas, not for the last Time. He told the assembled presidents in Bucharest.
The first two Meetings were considered by Germany even at a distance and with a certain level of scepticism. In 2015, Poland and Croatia launched, saw the Alliance following a spin-off of what have been called the United States at the time of President George W. Bush’s “New Europe”. In fact, the Three-oceans-Initiative from eleven countries, which are only occur in this Millennium, the EU – plus, as the only exception, so far, Austria.
Germany is interested in
Now Germany wants to actively participate in the Initiative. In his speech in Bucharest, the German foreign Minister several reasons why Germany should be there. Political and economic reasons, but of course the Baltic sea-Anreiner Germany belongs to it geographically. The Three seas-the Initiative looks at Heiko Maas, but especially as a Forum that wants to make use of Germany, to the Eastern European neighbors, “the total political, but also in infrastructure issues and energy issues” needs to be replaced, Maas.
Criticism Of Nord Stream 2
The member countries of the Three seas Initiative
Especially in terms of infrastructure and energy, one could describe the Three-seas Initiative as a kind of “cave of the lion” for Germany. Many of the assembled Eastern Europeans see, for example, the Nord Stream-2 project is extremely critical. The Gas Pipeline, which will transport Russian Gas directly to Germany, is not only for the directly concerned Ukraine is a Nuisance. Also, Poland looks the business with Russia is extremely critical and is not alone.
Especially Donald Trump is most recently noticed with harsh accusations against Germany because of the Gas business. Sharp, he has formulated this criticism is also at the last Meeting of the Three seas Initiative. Since Trump was a guest at the Three-seas Meeting in Poland, invited. This time Trumps energy Minister Perry. But one way or the other, Heiko Maas, was, prior to the Meeting, fearless: criticism of Nord Stream 2 there is, finally, “outside the forum”.
Germany as a “bridge-Builder”?
Maas is aware of the fact that the Eastern Europeans maintain currently a closer relationship to the United States, but that China is pursuing in the Region’s interests and, not least, Russia. This is also why Maas summons in Bucharest, the European cohesion and called on the participants to take care of the Europeans outside the EU – otherwise it would be marked “our immediate neighborhood” of the other.
Specifically, Germany wants to act as a “bridge Builder” between the East and the West. German companies should be pointed to opportunities in the field of “infrastructure projects” in the Region, the exchange of young people from East and West should be promoted. And: The countries of the Western Balkans are to continue to be in their approach to the EU and Nato supported. Heiko Maas does not want to send a Signal that Germany “looks only to the West”. He calls it the “New Ostpolitik”.
Whether Germany is able to represent his Ostpolitik in the future, in the framework of the Three-oceans-Initiative? At least, Romania’s President and the host, John, and EU Commission chief Juncker sounded positive and Germany is confident. After his candidate’s speech in Bucharest, the foreign Minister is doing in the sense of this line to work: From Romania Maas travels on to Macedonia and Albania.