EU enlargement 2004
Steinmeier raves about the “European moment of happiness”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets Czech President Petr Pavel (r.) at Prague Castle. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
In Prague, Federal President Steinmeier celebrates its admission to the EU together with the Czech Republic 20 years ago. Nine other countries also joined the EU at that time – a historic moment for Steinmeier.
On May 1, 2004, the former Eastern Bloc states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as well as Malta and Cyprus joined the European Union. It was the largest enlargement in the history of the EU.
Steinmeier also pointed to the significant improvement in bilateral relations between Germany and the Czech Republic in recent decades. “Our relationships have never been better than they are today,” he said. Czech President Pavel called Germany a strategic European partner. “Our mutual connection is so great that it couldn’t be any other way.” This ranges from industry to science, defense and security cooperation and digitalization. Pavel would like to see even closer cooperation with the neighboring federal states of Saxony and Bavaria in the future.
Debate about arms deliveries
The former general acknowledged that Germany was the second largest supporter of Ukraine after the USA in its defensive battle against Russia. He highlighted the German initiative to expand Ukrainian air defense. Regarding the German debate about a possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev, Pavel said: “The Taurus cruise missiles are a means of attack in depth – for Ukraine they would certainly have an importance, but not a decisive one.” Ukraine primarily needs air defense and artillery ammunition. Steinmeier emphasized that he did not want to give the federal government “public advice about individual weapon systems.”
Pavel was convinced that Russia’s aggression had opened the eyes of many people in the West. Germany has joined its initiative to procure 800,000 artillery shells from countries outside the EU for Ukraine. Berlin wants to contribute a three-digit million amount.
The Federal President came to Prague in the early afternoon to celebrate the 20th anniversary with the Czech Republic. “I’m sure EU membership has changed the Czech Republic, but the Czech Republic has also changed the European Union.” Even today, the enlargement of the EU is of central strategic interest for Germany, the Czech Republic and the European Union. “Germany supports the prospect of accession for the countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia that are willing to join,” emphasized Steinmeier.