Europe must be more than just a “concert of big players”, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told the German Bundestag. In the debate on foreign and security policy, Westerwelle stressed that he wants a European dialogue “among equal partners” and closer relations with Germany’s neighbors in the East.

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Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle

(© FDP)

Continuity in foreign policy is a tradition in German Governments, and one which Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle intends to follow. German foreign policy was “peace policy,” Westerwelle emphasized in his address on the new Federal Government’s foreign policy. It was both “guided by our interests and values-oriented.” The fundamental pillars of our foreign policy, he said, included close integration into the European Union and the international community. Germany would not be “going it alone” on foreign policy in the future either.

Developing relations with our eastern neighbors

Despite all this continuity, however, Westerwelle does want to fix new focuses: the choice of Poland for his first foreign visit was entirely deliberate, he said. His visit to Warsaw was a clear commitment to his endeavors to dismantle remaining resentments: “We want the friendship which has grown in relations between France and Germany to grow in relations with Poland as well.” Westerwelle stressed that he regarded it as a mandate to his generation to complete what previous Foreign Ministers like Willy Brandt and Walter Scheel had started.

European dialogue among equals

The new Federal Foreign Minister has also set the first focuses of European policy: as well as France, he has also visited the three Benelux states. Inaugural visits to Denmark and the UK were scheduled for 11 November. Europe must be more than just a “concert of big players,” said Westerwelle. “There are no small countries in Europe.” Within the European Union, Westerwelle said, he would seek “a dialogue among equals” and encourage respect for all member states.

Solid transatlantic partnership

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Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Westerwelle met in Berlin on November 9, 2009.

(© photothek/Thomas Imo)

In his speech, Westerwelle voiced a firm commitment to the transatlantic partnership. The United States was, he said, Germany’s “strongest and most loyal ally” outside Europe, and the transatlantic relationship was “a very special partnership.” The Federal Foreign Minister thanked the US, which had repeatedly been a guarantor of German freedom: “We wouldn’t be standing here today, able to express ourselves freely, if the United States had not stood by us back then.”

During his first few days in office, the Federal Foreign Minister has already met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton three times.