Bristol Hannover Council

It is a great pleasure, only shortly after taking up my post in London, to send you warm greetings on the occasion of your Bristolian event to mark 35 years of German unity.

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany were defining moments of the 20th century – not only for Germans, but for Europe as a whole. Against the backdrop of a multitude of crises that we are witnessing in today’s world, they remind us of the immense value of peace, freedom, and solidarity – values that continue to unite the United Kingdom and Germany as close partners today.

Cities and communities have played a crucial role in the reconciliation of our two countries after the devastation of the Second World War. The Bristol–Hannover Council, founded in 1947, was among the very first town twinnings between Germany and the UK and stands as one of the many powerful signs of a deep British-German friendship, built from the ground up after the horrors of the war.

Based on this legacy, the Bristol Anglo-German Society has, for more than forty years, been a driving force for cultural exchange and dialogue. With plentiful events and activities, BAGS has created spaces where people can come together, deepen their understanding, and keep our friendship alive in everyday life.

I am equally grateful for the valuable contribution of the University of Bristol, home to one of the largest cohorts of German degree students in the UK. I am delighted that, through the close collaboration between BAGS and the University, new opportunities for exchange and dialogue have been created, and new ways to strengthen the foundations of our bilateral ties have been found.

To the members of the BAGS, the university community, and especially all the students present tonight, I want to highlight that you represent the present and future of our bilateral friendship. Civil society connections have always been the bedrock of relations between countries but they need to be constantly renewed.

I am aware that some of you will just have returned from a year abroad studying in Germany, and that others will be sharing their experiences of Germany over the past 35 years in tonight’s panel. You, your stories and your international friendships are the fabric of the ties between our countries. Your enthusiasm and engagement ensure that they remain strong in the years to come.

In the political realm, our governments this year have done their part to charter a way forward. With the Kensington Treaty, the first bilateral friendship treaty between Germany and the United Kingdom, we have not only agreed to strengthen cooperation in very specific policy fields but we have also reaffirmed our shared commitment to deepen the people-to-people contacts that events like yours so vividly embody.

Let me conclude by congratulating the organizers of today’s event and thank the Bristol Anglo-German Society and the University of Bristol for their important work and their dedication to keeping our civil society connections strong and meaningful. May your discussions inspire new generations to continue building bridges between our countries.

Susanne Baumann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Kingdom

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