The expansion of travel and transport routes between Germany and Poland is of key importance not only for economic development, but also for general security, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today at a press conference in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"They are a key issue not only for economic development and for the mobility of citizens and residents of both countries, but also when it comes to military mobility, one of the prerequisites for guaranteeing common security," said Scholz.
The German chancellor arrived earlier today in Warsaw together with 12 federal and regional ministers for the first German-Polish intergovernmental consultations since 2018, Reuters recalls.
According to government sources in Berlin, the consultations should give a "strong push" of good neighborly relations between the two countries. A joint, German-Polish action plan involving several projects is expected to be agreed upon.
During the talks, Scholz stressed that he was confident that cooperation between him and his colleagues in the Weimar Triangle - an intergovernmental organization for mutual cooperation founded in 1991 involving Germany, France and Poland - would remain strong. regardless of the results of the second round of the French parliamentary elections this weekend.
"It is very important for us that we - these three countries, think together about the future of Europe," said the German chancellor. "We are sure that regardless of the result of the second round of the elections in France, the cooperation between the French President (Emmanuel Macron), Donald (Tusk) and myself will continue to be very good and this will also be the basis for the relations between our countries" , he added.
For his part, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Germany should become a "leading country" in the field of the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union, notes France Press.
"I cannot imagine that Germany may not be a leading country in terms of the Common Security and Defense Policy, including Polish security,", Tusk specified.
The Polish Prime Minister also commented on the issue of the defense budget, saying that Poland wants its defense spending to be well coordinated with other European Union countries. "Poland spends huge sums on armaments. I would like our efforts to be well coordinated with the efforts of other countries," he noted.
"Poland, one of the worst victims of the Second World War, and Germany, the perpetrator of this destruction, of this tragedy in the Second World War, must today, as free and democratic European countries, cooperate effectively to guarantee Europe's security", Tusk pointed out.
In a joint action plan presented today, Germany and Poland agreed to discuss strengthening their defense cooperation to counter the threat posed by Russia in the region, as well as a stronger NATO presence on the Eastern flank and coordination of aid to Ukraine, notes Reuters.
"We will seek to ensure transatlantic political unity and an optimal military presence for North American allies in Europe, including on NATO's Eastern Flank," said the plan, which was accessed by the agency.
The two countries will also deepen cooperation at the government level to provide military assistance to Kiev, including repair and maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks. For its part, Poland is considering joining Berlin's "European Sky Shield" initiative. (European Sky Shield Initiative), the plan states.