Four countries rely on the Oder partnership with Poland

Four German states want to discuss security and transport with Poland as part of the Oder partnership. To this end, representatives from Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin as well as the voivodeships of Greater Poland, Lubusz Land, West Pomerania and Lower Silesia will meet in Poznan on Wednesday (from 9.00 am). According to the Brandenburg State Chancellery, they want to discuss how to deal with cyber attacks and acts of sabotage, as well as better transport links.

Brandenburg takes over the chairmanship of the Oder Partnership for two years. "We are facing numerous security-related challenges that we have to solve together in Europe with our neighbor to the east, Poland," government spokeswoman Ines Filohn told the German Press Agency. In addition to the issue of security, she also mentioned the expansion of rail routes. Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) accuses the federal government of blocking the expansion of the Eastern Railway from Berlin to Küstrin-Kietz and is calling for progress.

The top representatives of the Oder Partnership are meeting for the ninth time. The partnership has existed since 2006 with the aim of creating a closely networked, economically strong region on both sides of the Oder. Minister-President Woidke will be attending on behalf of Brandenburg, while State Secretary for European Affairs Florian Hauer will represent Berlin. Heiko Miraß, Parliamentary State Secretary for Western Pomerania and Eastern Mecklenburg, will be attending from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and State Chancellery Head Andreas Handschuh from Saxony.