Press Advisories

19. 8. 201613:56

Prime Minister Sobotka and German Chancellor Merkel will discuss the future of the EU and further cooperation of Czechia and Germany

Invited by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, will visit the Czech Republic on Thursday, 25 August 2016. The main topics of their meeting will be the future of the European Union, the continuation of Czech-German strategic dialogue and the cooperation in science, research and modern technologies.

Furthermore, the meeting of Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka will also focus on the modernization of transport infrastructure connecting both countries or on cooperation in security issues.

“It is my long-term priority to foster good relationships in Central Europe and alliance with our neighbours. Apart from the fact that Germany is an important member of the EU and NATO, it is also our important trade partner. These are the reasons why the German Chancellor’s visit to Prague is significant. The Czech Republic and Germany have very good and strong relationship, even though our views may differ in certain areas, such as our approach to migration.

Chancellor Merkel and I will discuss the future of Europe and how to gain the support of citizens for the project of European integration. I will present her the Czech priority, which is a Europe guaranteeing security and prosperity to its citizens. We will also discuss common projects, chief among them the high-speed rail between Prague, Dresden and Berlin. Cooperation in science, research and digitalisation of industry will also be an important topic,” said Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

As part of the programme of Chancellor Merkel’s official visit to the Czech Republic, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will visit the Czech Technical University in Prague where they will meet the representatives of Czech and German research institutions and companies co-fostering the Czech-German cooperation in applied research and the digitalisation of industry.

The program also participate Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic's Government for the Science, Research and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Mládek and Minister of Culture Daniel Herman.

The Federal Chancellor will also be received by the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Miloš Zeman.

It will be Angela Merkel’s first visit to the Czech Republic in four years, her last visit took place in March 2012. She was invited to the Czech Republic in May 2015 during Prime Minister Sobotka’s working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.