Visit to Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia

Topic: Report

24 June 2016

The Federal President 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. In Slovenia, the Federal President then attended the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Slovenia. The visits took place against the backdrop of Germany’s excellent bilateral relations with the three countries.

Federal President Joachim Gauck and Daniela Schadt are welcomed with military honours by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev, on Alexander Nevski Square in Sofia on the occasion of the visit to the Republic of Bulgaria

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 hall

    Signing of the guest book

  • 1.45 p.m.

    Joint press conference

  • 3.30 p.m.
    Parliament

    Talks 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 Minister

    Talks with Dacian Cioloş, Prime Minister of Romania

  • 7.30 p.m.
    Cotroceni Palace

    State banquet hosted by the President of Romania Klaus Johannis and his wife Carmen Johannis

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

  • 9.30 a.m.
    National Library

    Welcome 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 Hall

    Welcome 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.
    Forumshaus

    Visit to the Democratic Forum

  • 3.45 p.m.
    Cisnădie

    Visit to fortified church

  • Approx. 5.00 p.m.

    Return flight to Bucharest

  • 8.00 p.m.
    Ambassador’s Residence

    Reception 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 Hotel

    Talks 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 Square

    Welcome 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 President

    Welcome 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 Ministers

    Welcome by President of the Republic of Bulgaria Boiko Borisov

  • 8.00 p.m.
    Office of the President

    State banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria

Thursday, 23 June 2016

  • 9.30 a.m.
    National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria

    Talks with the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Tsetska Tsacheva

  • 10.30 a.m.
    Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Aula

    Panel discussion with students entitled Germany and Bulgaria – partners in Europe with keynote address by President Gauck, together with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria

  • 12.45 p.m.
    Sofia Hotel

    Joint 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 Monastery

    Joint tour

  • 8.15 p.m.
    National Gallery

    Reception 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 Club

    Panel 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.
    Pirdop

    Visit to a copper recycling firm

  • Thereafter

    Flight to Ljubljana/Slovenia

  • 5.30 p.m.
    [CEST] Ljubljana, Presidential Palace

    Welcome 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 Square

    Attendance 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