Brussels, 07/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The new German minister for foreign affairs, Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, wants to improve Germany's image in Europe. Berlin is currently often accused of having imposed austerity on a crisis-ridden EU.
“Communication is very important in politics and misunderstandings can be avoided if we speak to each other more often”, Steinmeier stated at the end of a meeting with European Parliament President Martin Schulz in Brussels on Tuesday. Schulz is also a German Social Democrat. Following a meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso the previous day, Steinmeier was also due to meet European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. “I hope that the distorted perception of Germany's role in Europe can be corrected”, said Steinmeier from the new grand coalition government. (LC/transl.fl)