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Germany: China and Gulf states should also contribute to climate aid

Current information about Germany’s foreign policy and foreign relations.

14.11.2024
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14.11.2024: Germany: China and Gulf states should also contribute to climate aid

Baku (dpa) - In the dispute over the trillions of dollars in climate aid needed for poorer countries, the German government also expects countries such as China and the Gulf states to contribute. 

“These are countries that have built up considerable wealth - and should also contribute something,” said Jochen Flasbarth, state secretary in Germany’s Development Ministry, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan. According to a 30-year-old UN definition, however, they have so far been regarded as developing states - and thus as recipient countries.

Flasbarth pointed out that China is nowadays the number one emitter of harmful greenhouse gases by far. “That is also a reason for it to contribute.”
Referring to the expectation of developing countries that industrialised states will mobilise at least one trillion US dollars per year in climate funding, the state secretary said: “It will not be possible to finance everything out of national budgets.” Instead, he believes it will be about unlocking private investment on a grand scale, and says that public monies could be used as a lever in this context. 

He explained that many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America had untapped opportunities for climate-relevant investments - for example in wind farms, solar facilities or the production of green hydrogen.

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13.11.2024: Conference on biodiversity in food supply chains

Berlin – The European conference “Biodiversity in Food Supply Chains” in Berlin on 13 and 14 November is dedicated to biodiversity in global food supply chains. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir will attend the conference and give the opening speeches. In addition, experts from industry, science and environmental organisations will discuss the challenges involved and potential solutions in terms of integrating biodiversity as a key component in food systems. Issues include raising consumer awareness, incentives for farmers, the use of new technologies, risk assessment and the monitoring of supply chain data.

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12.11.2024: Habeck attends technology conference in Portugal

Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck attends the "Web Summit" technology conference in Lisbon. He is also meeting his Portuguese counterpart Pedro Reis and conducting talks with business representatives. Habeck travelled with a delegation of twelve female company founders and eight multipliers from the German start-up scene, and he highlighted the achievements and innovations realised by female start-up entrepreneurs.

"Young and vital start-ups and technology companies from Portugal will encounter established large industrial companies and a mature landscape of medium-sized companies in Germany. The start-up and scale-up strategy announced by the EU Commission provides for countless opportunities for even more intense cooperation against this backdrop," the minister pointed out.

With around 70,000 participants, the Web Summit is among the most important tech conferences worldwide. A total of around 150 young companies from Germany and Lisbon are represented this year, 100 thereof can be found at the joint booth "German Pavillon".

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11.11.2024: Baerbock appeals for humanitarian assistance for Gaza

Tel Aviv (dpa) - In view of the dramatic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has used clear words to criticise Israel and demanded that it take action. “At no time in the past twelve months has so little help reached the Gaza Strip as is the case at the moment,” said the Greens politician. She said that all border crossings to Gaza needed to be opened for humanitarian assistance, adding that Israel had to do more for the civilian population - “without any excuses”.
Time and again, promises had been made by Israel “and not kept,” Baerbock continued. “A large proportion of the more than two million people there is suffering from acute malnutrition, living in unimaginable conditions.” In no other region of the world were so many children with amputations living in such a small area, she said. “Large parts of Gaza are completely in ruins,” the minister went on.

Baerbock also said that the most urgent priority before the onset of winter was for the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip by the Islamist Hamas group to be released and for the emergency supplies necessary for survival to reach the civilian population. Israel’s right to self-defence was limited by international humanitarian law, which included the stipulation that humanitarian access must be guaranteed at all times, stressed Baerbock. She called once again for a ceasefire.

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11.11.2024: Start of the COP29 Climate Change Conference in Baku 

Today sees the start of the 29th World Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku under the presidency of Azerbaijan. In addition to implementation of the previous year’s resolutions on energy, mitigation and adaptation targets, this year’s focus is on climate financing. After 2025, the industrial countries’ existing annual collective 100-billion-dollar target is to be replaced by the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), while international climate financing is to be placed on a broader footing. “Team Germany” is represented at COP29 by a number of federal ministers. “As a global community, we must do everything we can to keep 1.5- degree target set in Paris within reach,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the run-up to COP29. Economic Affairs and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck emphasised that the “tripling of renewable energies by 2030, as agreed at COP28” is possible. Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, said that private climate investments would be crucial in view of the tight public budgets. “This makes it all the more important to ensure the right political framework conditions, not just in Germany but also in our partner countries,” says Schulze. “In Baku we’ll be campaigning for the signatory states to adopt measures for a circular economy,” said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke.

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07.11.2024: German business: tariffs would be detrimental to the USA, too

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated the future US President Donald Trump on winning the election in the USA. "Germany and the USA have been cooperating successfully for a long time to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the benefit of our citizens," Scholz stated. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Trump could "rely on Germany as a strong partner of the United States of America". Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also offered her congratulations: "Germany will be a close and reliable ally of the future American government, too."

Reactions to the result of the US election from the German business sector were predominantly characterised by concern. Since Germany is an export nation, customs duties are feared in particular, as Donald Trump had announced such tariffs as part of his election campaign, aiming to protect the US economy.

"Blanket ten or even 20 percent tariffs on all imports, and 60 percent on imports from China would cause massive harm, not only for Germany and the EU, but to the US economy, too," advised the German Confederation of Industry (BDI). 

"The world needs fewer rather than more trade restrictions," stressed Dirk Jandura, president of the foreign trade association BGA. "An American President can and must never have a pure 'America first' approach," he added, saying that the USA were Germany's most important trade partner and ally in a time of global change. "We rely on a continuation of our traditionally strong transatlantic relations."

Jörg Krämer, the head economist of Commerzbank, explained: "The tariffs will not only make German goods more expensive in the USA, but they are likely to also lead to counter tariffs from the EU, and that would put further strain on foreign trade." 

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06.11.2024: Federal Chancellor: stability in the Horn of Africa is of great interest 

Berlin (d.de) - Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz received the Somali President Hassah Sheikh Mohamud at the Chancellery for a political discussion of the two countries' cooperation and the situation in the Horn of Africa. Scholz pointed out that Somalia and Germany were linked by a long history of close relations based on partnership. He added that both countries were determined to further deepen this partnership. Scholz promised Somalia further support in the country's fight against the terrorist organisation al-Shabab. It was "a task in which we are very willing to support the Somali government as part of the European Union's and the United Nations' missions, by contributing police officers and civilian helpers," the Federal Chancellor said. 

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05.11.2024: German Development Minister Schulze in Lebanon: more assistance for refugees

Beirut (dpa) - Germany’s Development Minister Svenja Schulze has pledged Lebanon, which has been badly hit by the war, further help for the millions of refugees and displaced persons there. “It is in Lebanon’s interests to stabilise the situation here, but it is also in Germany’s interests,” Schulze said during a short visit to the Lebanese capital Beirut. She said it was about enabling people to stay in the region. “If the Middle East, and Lebanon in particular, destabilise any further, we will certainly notice it in Germany too.”

60 million euros more 

To be able to better provide people in Lebanon with food, clean drinking water and healthcare, the Bundestag made an additional 60 million euros available in total to the Development Ministry in mid-October. The new assistance is the reason for the minister’s trip to Beirut. Schulze visited a community kitchen and an emergency shelter for refugees there.

Schulze voiced support for a ceasefire in the near future in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. At the same time, however, she defended Germany’s arms exports to Israel, which the German government has stepped up. “We support Israel, that is part of our raison d’état, Israel must be able to defend itself,” Schulze said after a talk with Prime Minister Najib Mikati. 

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04.11.2024: Baerbock: standing unshakably by Ukraine's side 

Kiev (dpa) - In view of the upcoming third winter of the war and Russia's continued attacks on infrastructure, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock assured continued support for Ukraine. "Alongside numerous partners around the world, Germany is standing unshakably by Ukraine's side," the politician from the Green Party confirmed at the start of a solidarity visit to Kiev. "We will continue to support the Ukrainian people for as long as needed to enable them to make their way to the peace they rightfully deserve."

The minister reached the capital city of Kiev on a special train. Her visit had initially been kept secret for security reasons. It is her eighth visit to Ukraine since Russia started its war of aggression almost 1,000 days ago. The minister praised the Ukrainians' resilience "despite the situation getting worse with massive Russian air strikes against civilian infrastructure, the offensives in the metropolitan region of Kharkiv and in the Donbass region, and military assistance from North Korea". Russia's President Vladimir Putin was trying to defeat people with his war of attrition, she added, saying: "We are counteracting this brutality with compassion and support," because the Ukrainians were also defending the freedom of everyone in Europe.

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01.11.2024: The German government shuts down all Iranian consulates general.

Berlin/New York (dpa) - The German government has closed all three of the Iranian consulates general in Germany in reaction to the execution of German-Iranian dual citizen Djamshid Sharmahd. These involve the consular authorities in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich, with a total of 32 consular officials. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock justified this step by referring to the “inhuman act” perpetrated by the Iranian leadership. “The fact that this killing occurred in light of the latest developments in the Middle East indicates that an unjust dictatorial regime like the mullahs does not operate within the realms of normal diplomatic logic”, said Baerbock. The embassy in Berlin remains open and is responsible for consular representation of the 300,000 Iranians in Germany.

The Iranian judiciary had announced Sharmahd's execution on Monday. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Baerbock had also sharply criticised the execution on the same day. Baerbock then summoned the head of the Irani embassy in Berlin to the Foreign Office. Djamshid Sharmahd was accused of terrorism offences and sentenced to death after a contentious trial in the spring of 2023. The accusations were vehemently denied by the German Government, his relatives and human rights activists. Baerbock demanded the release of the German citizen while he was still in detention in Iran and repeated that the EU classifies the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.

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31.10.2024: Steinmeier “full of shame” for Nazi crimes in Greece

Thessaloniki (dpa) - During his three-day trip to Greece, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has visited the site where the future Holocaust Museum is being built in Thessaloniki. “Whoever stands here and speaks as German federal president is full of shame,” Steinmeier said. Before the war, the Jewish community in Greece numbered around 80,000 people. Roughly 50,000 of them lived in Thessaloniki. From March 1943, they were deported, the majority of them to the Auschwitz extermination camp in occupied Poland, where they were murdered. Only around 12 percent survived the Holocaust. The museum is being built with German support close to the transit camp where Jews were gathered before being deported to the concentration camps.

Steinmeier then visited Athens, where he faced Greek demands for reparations. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou reminded him right at the start of their conversation that her country had suffered damage during the Second World War and had been forced to pay out a loan to Hitler’s Germany. Steinmeier admitted Germany’s responsibility for the “atrocities” before and during the Second World War, but stressed: “We take a different view on the legal matter you mention. You know that Germany views the legal matter of reparations as settled under international law. But we nonetheless remain committed to our historic and moral responsibility.”

To conclude his three-day visit to Germany, Steinmeier is travelling to Crete today to visit the village Kandanos. It had been completely destroyed by the German Wehrmacht in 1941. Steinmeier is likely to make an official apology for this war crime. 

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30.10.2024 Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth in Ukraine

Odesa (dpa) - During a visit to the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Germany’s Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth has been shocked by the destruction. She had already been in Odesa and Ukraine in June 2022. Roth was impressed by how local residents and artists were determined to get on with their lives despite the oppressive reality of war and frequent air-raid alerts. “Despite the war, a new ballet is being rehearsed with great passion, a new opera is being rehearsed and a new exhibition of recent art, created during the war, is being shown,” said Roth. Culture offers strength and hope, she added. 

This is precisely why further German support was so important, Roth explained. “It is also a question of continuing to help them with the protection of cultural treasures, with the production of books and films, through museum cooperation and with the digitisation of artworks.” Roth believes it is important to raise the profile of Ukrainian art and Ukrainian artists in Germany, among other things by organising guest appearances and exhibitions.

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29.10.2024: Germany “very concerned” about prevention of UNRWA work in Israel 

Tel Aviv (dpa) - The German ambassador in Israel, Steffen Seibert, has expressed German concern regarding the Israeli parliament’s vote to ban UNRWA, the UN’s Palestine aid agency. The humanitarian situation of the men, women and children displaced in the Gaza Strip is already considered to be disastrous. “These laws will further deepen their suffering.” UNRWA is crucially important in providing them with aid – “and even more aid is still required”. Germany supported the UN aid agency with more than 200 million euros in 2023. The aid for suffering Palestinians amounts to a total of around 290 million euros in new funds since 7 October 2023. 

Luise Amtsberg, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, stated: “The Israeli crack down on a UN-mandated organisation, which has been engaged in vital work since 1950, is a dangerous signal of disregard for the United Nations and for international cooperation.” On Monday evening, a massive majority in the Israeli parliament had approved the contentious draft laws prohibiting this UN organisation’s operations on Israeli territory. 

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28.10.2024: Our State Secretary visits Vietnam and Cambodia

Berlin (d.de) – Germany intensifies its cooperation with Vietnam and Cambodia in the fields of energy transformation and social security. State Secretary in the Ministry of Development, Bärbel Kofler, is visiting both countries and meeting their government representatives as well as international and local partners to advance cooperation in development policies. The commitment in Vietnam is especially focused on discussions concerning a socially just energy transformation. The priority in Cambodia is cooperation in strengthening social security systems and ensuring a sustainable textile industry. Other topics under discussion include vocational training, development-related vocational migration and supply chain regulations.

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25.10.2024: Bundestag renews anti-IS mandate in Iraq

Rostock (dpa) - The Bundestag decided to renew the anti-IS mandate until January 2026, and thus ensured continued deployment of the Federal Armed Forces in Iraq. The Islamic State terrorist organisation (IS) continues to pose a serious threat, not only for people in Iraq but for the entire region and beyond. Germany continues its involvement in the international anti-IS coalition and contributes to preventing the terrorist group from regaining strength by supporting Iraqi security staff as well as through air-to-air refuelling and air transport. The German mission focusses on establishing sustainable security structures and on long-term stabilisation of the region. Since 2013, Germany has invested some 300 million euros in stabilising areas that were liberated from the IS, for example in building up citizen-oriented police structures and counselling for victims of violence.

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24.10.2024: Schulze at G7 meeting with host countries in Pescara

Berlin (d.de) - The Italian G7 Presidency is hosting a meeting of G7 development ministers in Pescara. Besides the ministers, numerous host countries have been invited to attend the three-day meeting. The G7 partners want to push forward key development policy initiatives, including in the area of food security and investments in sustainable infrastructure. German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said ahead of the talks: “With its invitation to a meeting of the G7 development ministers, the Italian G7 Presidency is sending an important signal: development policy is at the heart of what the G7 does.” The importance of the meeting is evidenced in particular by the guests: “The fact that numerous BRICS states and also many other host countries are taking part in the G7 meeting shows the high degree of interest in working together.”

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