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Ireland in Germany a Wider and Deeper Footprint

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Ireland in Germany a Wider and Deeper Footprint Ireland in Germany A Wider and Deeper Footprint Embassy of Ireland, Berlin April 2018 Contents 5 Executive Summary 7 List of Recommendations 8 The Context: Doubling Ireland’s Global Footprint 9 Mapping and Consultations Overview 10 Ireland in Germany Today 19 Future Relationship and Recommendations 20 Part A: A Wider Footprint across the German States 23 Part B: Deepening the Centre – Getting Berlin Right 26 Part C: Promoting our Global Island in the Heart of Europe 28 Part D: Serving an Evolving Community – Drawing on their Combined Footprints 30 Next Steps and Evaluation 31 Annex 1: Summary of Survey Responses 38 Annex 2: Initial Notification of Review 3 4 Executive Summary Ireland is growing its global footprint. This will mean many different things in many different and often far-flung parts of the world. But, to be successful, it must also have real meaning in our own backyard – in Germany, the largest country in our shared European Union, a vital political and economic partner, a fertile landscape for Irish culture and an innovative and global player of more than 80 million people in today’s shifting world. Against this background, the Tánaiste and Minister trading partner and fifth largest market for food for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD, exports. But there is the capacity to do so much more. requested the Embassy in Berlin in December 2017 to undertake a comprehensive review of the relationship This is a country which also has a positive emotional between Ireland and Germany. The call for a review attachment to Ireland, an attachment shaped by our reflects the need to further step up our political, EU, affinity diaspora: Germans without a direct family or economic and cultural engagement with Germany as personal connection to Ireland but with a passion for we tackle the urgent demands of Brexit and seek to and interest in our country and our culture. It is an proactively play our part in shaping the EU’s - internal attachment which has not always been appreciated and external - response to the shifting world order and which does not encompass the full spectrum of and the emerging challenges of a twenty first century our relations. In some ways it is an unrequited love which is no longer new. The review is also historically story and it is one which cannot be taken for granted. timely as next year, 2019, will mark the 90th Without nurturing, without modernising, without anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland updating, Germany will only know part of our story and and Germany. that story and the sense of attachment which comes from it may not be transferred to future generations. Germany is an indispensable partner for Ireland: whether in day-to-day debate and negotiation on In carrying out the review and exploring the potential European legislation which directly impacts on Irish of the future relationship, extensive consultations citizens from agricultural policy to banking regulation were undertaken including a lightning roadshow or on the global stage as we jointly seek to address in seven German cities and an online survey which some of the world’s biggest challenges which defy attracted a significant response. the control of any single nation - from migration to crisis prevention and disarmament. It is also a The overarching message of the review is that we partner with which we share many core values – a need to widen and deepen our relationship with commitment to the rule of law, to the UN and to the Germany in all its aspects – its people, its industry, multilateral world order as well as to human rights, the State and Federal Governments, its parliaments, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the protection its media, its universities and its cultural institutions. of the vulnerable, a belief in an open society and in We need to build on the traditional positive image the capacity of free trade to grow our economies, and of Ireland in Germany while modernising and commitments to equality, diversity and opportunity. diversifying it to reflect the Ireland of today. We may be doing well, but there is little doubt that with some Boiled down to cold numbers, Germany is also further prioritising and resourcing we could really lift Ireland’s second largest source of inward investment, the relationship between our two countries to a new third largest source of tourists, fourth largest overall level and deliver real additional benefit. 5 Executive summary The review sets out some detailed, concrete and Taken together, the recommendations in this realisable recommendations to reach this goal. These review imagine a relationship between Ireland and are clustered around four overlapping and mutually Germany which runs across our Governments, our reinforcing areas: economies and our societies, which is progressive, innovative, responsible and mutually beneficial – A Wider Footprint across the German States for ourselves as well as our common neighbours. In time, the recommendations are intended to lead Deepening the Centre – Getting Berlin Right to: a modernising of Ireland’s image in Germany; a widening of our official footprint in Germany; a Promoting our Global Island in the Heart more visible Ireland in Germany; an intensification of our post-Brexit engagement at all levels - political, of Europe parliamentary, official and economic; a significant upgrading and resourcing of Ireland’s cultural offering Serving an Evolving Community – in Germany; a celebration of Irish culture in Germany Drawing on their Combined Footprints in 2020 or 2021; an engagement of the resources of our business community and our new diaspora; and, overall, a farewell to mutual stereotypes. It will be important to implement these recommendations as much as possible in cooperation with our German partners and to keep the impact of the recommendations under active review. 6 List of the Recommendations • Open a new career Consulate in Frankfurt • Agree and implement a German Language in 2019. In considering further expansion of Strategy in Ireland. our footprint, Munich should be prioritised in • Revitalise Ireland’s connections with German the short to medium term. Düsseldorf is also education institutions and universities through deserving of attention. the creation of a network of Irish academics and • Further develop contacts at the highest level teachers working in German institutions and following on from the State Visit to Ireland German academics teaching Irish studies or the by the President of Germany and undertake a Irish language or with a strong interest in Ireland. focused effort to renew and revitalise political • Establish enhanced coordination mechanisms and parliamentary links particularly among young within Team Ireland in Germany to ensure politicians and advisors. that media and communication strategies are • Formalise regular bilateral contact at Secretary complementary and coordinated to the extent General and State Secretary Level. possible. • Establish a high level Joint Irish-German Economic • Establish and develop a German-Irish Council Council to provide advice to the Government consisting of Irish community and cultural on maximising Ireland’s economic relations with groups in Germany and foster stronger regional Germany. connections and multiplier effects between Irish community and cultural groups. • Establish the Embassy as an Ireland House in Berlin. • Foster young Irish artists of all disciplines who are resident in Berlin (without excluding those • Establish an Irish Cultural Centre run by an working in other parts of Germany) and establish experienced professional Cultural Director within the city as a cradle for young and upcoming Irish the Embassy (Ireland House) in Berlin. talent. • Kickstart a new phase in relations with a year- • In the spirit of Heinrich Böll, establish a new long celebration of Irish culture in Germany in annual award to recognise the important role and 2020 or 2021. contribution of both the Irish diaspora and affinity • Publicise and support the further expansion of diaspora in Germany. Irish-German R&D links. • Prepare a feasibility study on the potential for • Regularise consultations between Dublin and establishing Berlin as regional hub for centralised Berlin-based officials on EU issues. consular services notably passports, foreign birth registrations and visas. • Enhance dialogue between German and Irish Think Tanks with German and Irish officials. • Design and implement imaginative new outreach initiatives for a new generation of young mobile • Identify and pursue opportunities for Ireland and emigrants. Germany to demonstrate that within the EU a larger Member State and a smaller Member State • Build connections for and with returning children can work together effectively and deliver added and their families and for the second and third value for foreign policy goals particularly in areas generation Irish in Germany. of core shared values. • Foster 21st Century Pen Pals in Schools and Young • Initiate closer co-operation between Ireland and Leaders Exchanges. Germany in the United Nations, to be led by our • Make creative and effective use of new Embassy Permanent Missions in New York and Geneva, in resources to serve a whole of Government the framework of our broader political dialogue on function and pilot new ways of working for our issues of shared global concern. Embassies of the future. 7 The Context: Doubling Ireland’s Global Footprint A review of relations between Ireland and Germany Review Objectives was requested by the Tánaiste in
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