The Diplomat
The German ambassador to Spain, Maria Margarete Gosse, said during the celebration of the Day of German Unity in Madrid that Europe needs unity, strength and resilience at this time.
On Wednesday evening, the ambassador hosted a reception at the headquarters of the German College, which was attended by the President of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol; the Government Delegate in the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín Aguirre; and representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also present were most of the European ambassadors and a large number from other areas, such as those of Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Qatar and Kenya, as well as the Nuncio of His Holiness, together with representatives of the Spanish economic, political and cultural world.
After a greeting from the Director of the German School and the playing of the national anthems, the Ambassador took the floor, referring to the summit to be held next week in Granada by the EU Heads of State and Government, and expressed her support for the efforts being made by Ukraine since the invasion by Russia.
We know that if Russia wins, we all lose, in Europe and in the world, because this is an attack on the international order that we have maintained for a long time”, she said, adding that “what we need in Europe is unity, strength and resilience”.
Margarete Gosse added that the Granada Summit will discuss Europe’s strategic autonomy and how Europe can increase its capacity to act in a changing world.
The ambassador stressed that there are countries in other parts of the world that have made great progress in their development and that we Europeans are not the only ones who can do things. She added that these countries ask to be respected and that it is also respected that some of them do not want to align themselves to one side or the other.
She went on to discuss bilateral relations with Spain, recalling that, in the last year, there had been a meeting between the two governments in La Coruña, and the King and Queen had paid a state visit to Germany, in addition to a number of bilateral meetings, within the framework of the six months of the Spanish Presidency. She congratulated Spain on the “excellent” organisation of the Presidency, “in a difficult political situation”.
Margarete Gosse pointed out that Germany’s relations with Spain are easy, due to the strong sense of Europeanism that exists in our country, which makes it easier, she said, for there to be many issues that do not need to be discussed because there are coincidences or because, if there are not, it is easy to reach agreement.
After referring to the danger of anti-democratic and ultra-nationalist movements in Europe, the ambassador expressed her satisfaction at being able to celebrate the Day of German National Unity, precisely in a school, “because what we need,” she said, “is education, to make young people understand the importance of the democratic values that we have in Europe”.
