Federal President Joachim Gauck and Daniela Schadt travelled on a state visit to Romania and the Republic of Bulgaria from 20 to 24 June, as well as to the Republic of Slovenia for the 25th anniversary of the country’s independence on 24 June.
The visits took place against the backdrop of Germany’s excellent bilateral relations with the three countries.
During his two day visit to Romania, the President Gauck visited Sibiu and a fortified church in Transylvania in addition to the capital Bucharest. Moreover, he discussed the topic of European cohesion and focus on German-Romanian business relations and the reform process in Romania. During his two day visit to Bulgaria, he held political talks in Sofia, discussed students’ expectations of the European Union and took part in a panel discussion on coming to terms with the country’s communist past. Germany and Bulgaria’s intensive business relations was a further focus of his trip to Bulgaria while an excursion to the Rila Monastery was the cultural highlight of the visit.
In Slovenia, the Federal President then attended the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Slovenia as a guest of President Pahor.
Overview of the programme:
Monday, 20 June 2016
Morning
Flight to Romania/Bucharest
12.15 p.m. [CEST +1], Bucharest, Cotroceni Palace
Welcome with military honours by President of Romania Klaus Johannis and Carmen Johannis
12.30 p.m.
Great hallSigning of the guest book
1.45 p.m.
Joint press conference
3.30 p.m.
ParliamentTalks with the President of the Senate and the President of the Chamber of Deputies
4.20 p.m.
Wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and signing of the guest book
4.45 p.m.
Official residence of the Prime MinisterTalks with Dacian Cioloş, Prime Minister of Romania
7.30 p.m.
Cotroceni PalaceState banquet hosted by the President of Romania Klaus Johannis and his wife Carmen Johannis
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
9.30 a.m.
National LibraryWelcome by Andrei Pleșu, President of the New Europe Foundation
Thereafter speech by President Gauck
Approx. 11.00 a.m.
Flight to Sibiu
12.15 p.m.
Sibiu City HallWelcome by Mayor Astrid Fodor
Signing of the Golden Book of the city
12.40 p.m.
Joint walk through old city to Brukenthal College and to the Lutheran Church Sibiu
1.45 p.m.
ForumshausVisit to the Democratic Forum
3.45 p.m.
CisnădieVisit to fortified church
Approx. 5.00 p.m.
Return flight to Bucharest
8.00 p.m.
Ambassador’s ResidenceReception in honour of the President of Romania Klaus Johannis and his wife Carmen Johannis, hosted by President Gauck and Ms Schadt
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
10.00 a.m.
Bucharest Grand HotelTalks with Romanian and German business representatives
11.15 a.m.
Talks with representatives from civil society and independent state institutions focusing on efforts to fight corruption
Early afternoon
Flight to Bulgaria/Sofia
2.30 p.m. [CEST +1]
Sofia, Alexander Nevski SquareWelcome with military honours by President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev
Thereafter wreath laying ceremony at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier
Thereafter laying of a garland at the monument to Ivan Vazov
3.00 p.m.
Office of the PresidentWelcome by President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Thereafter official welcome photo and exchange of decorations
4.30 p.m.
Joint press conference
5.00 p.m.
Council of MinistersWelcome by President of the Republic of Bulgaria Boiko Borisov
8.00 p.m.
Office of the PresidentState banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Thursday, 23 June 2016
9.30 a.m.
National Assembly of the Republic of BulgariaTalks with the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Tsetska Tsacheva
10.30 a.m.
Sofia UniversitySt. Kliment Ohridski
, AulaPanel discussion with students entitled
Germany and Bulgaria – partners in Europe
with keynote address by President Gauck, together with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria12.45 p.m.
Sofia HotelJoint luncheon with business representatives
2.00 p.m.
Speech by President Gauck at the opening of the German-Bulgarian Economic Forum
4.00 p.m.
Rila MonasteryJoint tour
8.15 p.m.
National GalleryReception in honour of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, hosted by President Gauck and Ms Schadt
Friday, 24 June 2016
9.30 a.m.
Military ClubPanel discussion with business representatives and representatives from civil society entitled
Lessons from the past. Remembering and coming to terms with Communism
1.20 p.m.
PirdopVisit to a copper recycling firm
Thereafter
Flight to Ljubljana/Slovenia
5.30 p.m.
[CEST] Ljubljana, Presidential PalaceWelcome by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor
6.00 p.m.
Group photo with the attending Presidents (Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Croatia, Republic of Austria, Republic of Slovenia)
6.00 p.m.
Dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Slovenia
9.00 p.m.
Congress SquareAttendance of celebrations to mark the founding of the state and the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Slovenia
Evening
Return flight to Berlin