Germany and Denmark want to intensify their cooperation in strategic areas such as combating climate change, energy production, security and European policy and health care.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and her Danish counterpart Jeppe Kofod signed a "Joint Action Plan" in Copenhagen on Friday, which contains 14 pages of numerous projects for "future German-Danish cooperation".

The preamble states that the plan is based on the "German-Danish Declaration of Friendship" adopted a year ago, which already contained a general commitment to deepening bilateral relations.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

  • Follow I follow

The first joint field of action concerns cooperation in the border region in Schleswig.

The ambitious goal is formulated that "the joint German-Danish approach to the relationship between minorities and majorities could be an inspiration for other border regions all over the world".

A working group is to promote cross-border mobility.

The document mentions several times the planned new crossing of the Fehmarnbelt, which Denmark has been operating for a long time and has been promised by Germany.

Now it says, "Through our increased efforts, we will ensure that we realize the potential of the project".

"Hydrogen Partnership"

In energy policy, Germany and Denmark want to agree on a “hydrogen partnership”.

Accordingly, the Danish sources of renewable energies are to be used more for hydrogen production and excess hydrogen is to be exported to Germany;

the construction of a hydrogen pipeline is also being considered for this purpose.

In their action plan, Germany and Denmark also commit to "exploiting the entire potential of offshore wind energy in the North and Baltic Seas".

Among other things, the joint development of wind farms off the coast is being considered.

The stronger cooperation should also be reflected, among other things, in joint projects to stabilize the Sahel zone, and in general there should be stronger coordination of humanitarian aid.

Military cooperation in the Baltic Sea region is to be expanded, including the creation of a joint situational picture for the Baltic Sea and the northern sea routes to the Atlantic.

Both countries also want to cooperate more in international disarmament policy.