Soltz’s visit is the starting point for restarting Greek-German relations

By Penelope Galliou

He has been in Athens since last night German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, coming from Paris and the meeting he had at the Elysee Palace with the French president, Emmanuel Macronfor Europe’s energy but also for common equipment projects.

The Maximos Palace sees the visit of the German chancellor, which is also the first official visit to our country after the country’s exit from the program of enhanced supervision, as an opportunity to start a dynamic restart of bilateral relations between Greece and Germany. According to government sources, it is intended to mark a new page as Greece is now in a state of European normality, while the Greek economy records positive performances in the midst of unprecedented crises, performances that, together with the reforms, have been recognized by the German side.

It is also highlighted that the visit of Mr. Soltz comes at a critical geopolitical moment when major changes are taking place in Europe as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the pandemic crisis that preceded it.

Early in the morning the German chancellor visits the Acropolis and then the political part of his visit to Greece will follow, during which he will have a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at the Maximos Palace, while joint statements by the two leaders to journalists will follow. Afterwards, the Greek and German delegations will sit down to a joint working lunch and in the afternoon the German Chancellor will leave for Berlin.

During the talks between the two leaders, bilateral relations and economic cooperation are expected to be discussed. dealing with the energy crisis affecting all European countries. Just a few days ago, after all, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had an extensive exchange of views with the German chancellor at the long-hour session of the European Council, which had as the top topic on the agenda the dealing with the energy crisis. There, views were bridged and there were convergences in the Commission’s proposals on all aspects of the energy crisis, including the need to contain energy prices, which allowed the 27 of the European Union to reach an agreement.

High on the agenda is the war in Ukraine, but also the challenges for stability and security in the wider region and of course the role played by Turkey, Turkish provocation and the direct questioning of Greek sovereignty. Athens also considers that Berlin has abandoned the policy of equal distances in Greek-Turkish and has moved to the side of Greek positions. It is noted that Chancellor Soltz’s visit to Athens not combined with a simultaneous visit to Ankara, as is usually done in the visits of government officials to maintain Berlin’s balance between Athens and Ankara.

The chancellor’s visit comes a year after his predecessor Angela Merkel’s farewell visit on 28 October 2021 and it is his third meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Their first meeting had taken place last May, on the sidelines of the Summit in Brussels, during a period of rhetorical exasperation on the part of Turkey, and the very next day there had been a clear position of Berlin in favor of the Greek positions. The second meeting of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Olaf Soltz had taken place on the occasion of the chancellor’s arrival in Thessaloniki shortly afterwards to attend the dinner of the leaders of the Summit of the South East European Cooperation Process – indicative of the importance he attaches to relations with Greece, as and with the countries of the Western Balkans.

A week after the Soltz visit, on November 3, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will go to Berlin to participate in the “Berlin Process”, a German initiative involving the leaders of the Western Balkan countries and European leaders.

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