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UPDATE: Polish, German, French ministers hold Weimar Triangle talks

12.05.2023 12:30
The Polish, German and French ministers for European affairs gathered for a Weimar Triangle meeting in western Poland on Friday to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and plans to enlarge the European Union and reform its institutions, according to officials.
Polands European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (second from left), Frances Laurence Boone (left), and Germanys Anna Lhrmann (right) meet at Kórnik Castle in western Poland on Friday, accompanied by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (second from right).
Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (second from left), France's Laurence Boone (left), and Germany's Anna Lührmann (right) meet at Kórnik Castle in western Poland on Friday, accompanied by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (second from right).Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

The meeting at Kórnik Castle in the country's western Wielkopolskie region was being hosted by Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sękpublic broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, who is in charge of her country's bid to join the EU and NATO, was also taking part in the meeting.

Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (right) and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (left) shake hands as they meet at Kórnik Castle in western Poland on Friday. Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (right) and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (left) shake hands as they meet at Kórnik Castle in Poland's western Wielkopolskie region on Friday. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Photo: Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Szynkowski vel Sęk told reporters ahead of the meeting that "the main topic will be EU enlargement, with a particular emphasis on Ukraine." 

Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk. Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

"We will also talk about the European perspective of Moldova and the Western Balkans," he said.

The three ministers were expected to discuss ways to reform the EU's institutions, according to Szynkowski vel Sęk.

Photo: Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

The Weimar Triangle group was set up by Poland, Germany and France in the early 1990s to help overcome divisions in Europe by integrating Poland with European and Euro-Atlantic structures. That goal was achieved through Poland's accession to NATO, and then to the European Union.

Today the Weimar Triangle is a platform for consulting and discussing common positions on key policy issues within the European bloc, with talks taking place at various levels of government administration, according to officials.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP