Press Advisories

5. 5. 202222:01

Prime Minister Fiala talks energy security and Ukraine with Chancellor Scholz in Berlin

On 5 May 2022, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. The main topics of the meeting were energy security with regard to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and the global impact of the war. The leaders also discussed joint support for Ukraine, the priorities of the upcoming Czech EU Presidency and Czech-German bilateral co-operation.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine and the related refugee wave and mutual defence co-operation between the two countries.

“We discussed many topics with the German Chancellor, many of which were of course influenced by Russia’s war in Ukraine. We have agreed on a joint project concerning the modernisation of the Czech army, which is linked to specific support for the Ukrainian armed forces. This project also involves heavy military equipment. I am very glad that we have found an agreement so quickly and that we can take advantage of our countries’ potential,” said Prime Minister Fiala.

Energy security was next on the agenda. The politicians discussed the possibilities of the Czech side using the capacities of German LNG terminals. The Czech Republic wants to co-operate with Germany in diversifying oil and gas transport routes and sources. Both leaders spoke about increasing the capacity of the TAL pipeline, which is of great importance for the Czech Republic’s energy security.

“The key topic number two was energy security and our common intention to get rid of our dependence on Russian gas and oil. We discussed the expansion of the TAL pipeline, which Germany uses, and we also agreed to start talks and create a joint working group to focus on using the German natural gas terminals,” the Prime Minister summarised.

The politicians also discussed the preparations for the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will reflect the current situation and deal with the issues of the reconstruction of Ukraine, energy security and the increase of the EU’s defence capabilities. They also agreed to support the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU.

“Germany is our key strategic partner. We are linked through a number of contacts, both political, economic and, of course, personal. It is a big neighbouring country. Of course, we are interested in further developing our co-operation and the best possible relations,” said Prime Minister Fiala.

Prime Minister Fiala also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its consequences, and above all the necessary support for Ukraine, were also an important point of this meeting. They also discussed relations between the Czech Republic and Germany.

“The President received me very warmly. As we know, he is a friend of the Czech Republic. We had the opportunity to talk openly about a number of issues. We discussed Czech-German relations and their further development. We talked about energy policy and the challenges facing the European Union. We discussed how to help effectively and what could stop the brutal war in Ukraine. We also talked about the Czech EU Presidency and our expectations for that,” the Prime Minister said.

The Czech Prime Minister also paid tribute to the memory of Czechoslovak resistance fighters at the memorial in Berlin’s Plötzensee Prison. The prison was used by the Nazis during World War II to hold and execute their opponents and members of the resistance. Seven hundred Czechoslovaks were also executed there. Petr Fiala also participated in a discussion at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), where the consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine for Czech and German security policy were discussed.