Tánaiste meeting Westerwelle and senior German Politicans in Berlin

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade , Eamon Gilmore, will travel to Berlin tomorrow to meet the German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle.  They will discuss European developments, including the Irish programme and the special circumstances related to Irish bank debt.  Their meeting will also focus on plans for the Irish Presidency of the European Union as well as a number of important foreign policy issues notably the situation in Syria, Iran, the Middle East Peace Process and the OSCE.

In the afternoon, the Tánaiste will meet with Peer Steinbrück, the recently nominated Chancellor Candidate for the German Social Democrats, before addressing a large audience at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (German political foundation) on the topic: “Moving beyond the crisis – a shared future in Europe”.  Following his address the Tánaiste will participate in a moderated discussion with Mr Steinbrück.

The Tánaiste’s schedule in Berlin includes participation at the first meeting of the Global Irish Network in continental Europe, which is being held at the Embassy in Berlin and will be attended by Irish people who occupy senior positions in a range of European countries.  This is an important part of the follow up to last year’s meeting of the network in Dublin.