By Baron Henri Estramant.
17 September 2015, Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein: At the invitation of HSH Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechstenstein (who deputises for his father the Sovereign Prince Hans Adams II), the heads of state or their representatives of Europe’s German-speaking countries partook at their twelfth summit which focused on the ongoing refugee crisis.
Amongst the participants were Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt, Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Belgians, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga (who chairs the Swiss Federal Council however is not Head of State), Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer and wife Margit Fischer as well as HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Other topics during the informal meeting included the digitalisation of the economy, and its consequences in the work market and how the states are or should react to it.
Likewise the attendees held informal talks with Premier Adrian Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture, Dr. Aurelia Frick and some parliamentarians. Subsequently there was a visit to the Art Museum of Liechtenstein.
The summit takes place yearly since 2004. The Kingdom of Belgium shall host it in 2016. Belgium’s Royal House itself is of German extraction, that is, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, although nowadays it is properly referred to as the “House of Belgium”. The German ducal titles were dropped after World War II.
Belgium’s German-speaking community in the East of the country (Ostbelgien). counts about 77,000 citizens. They enjoy their own government led by Minister-President Oliver Paasch, and a Parliament whose incumbent speaker is Karl-Heinz Lambretz. There have a representative office at the Hôtel de Brouckère in Brussels headed by Mr Alexander Homann.
Liechtenstein is the only country worldwide wherein German is the only official language.
For more information:
Principality of Liechtenstein: www.
Belgium’s German-speaking Community: www.dglive.be
Representation of the German-speaking Community in Brussels:
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Pictures by Roland Korner/Close Up AG
