INVESTORS IN MSK
o moderní průmyslové země, jejichž prosperita z velké části závisí právě na těchto aspektech. Není náhoda, že se naše
firmy často tak aktivně věnují otázkám
udržitelnosti a šetrnosti k životnímu prostředí. Česká republika i Německo navíc
v brzké době získají první dotace v rámci
Green Dealu EU. I proto bude důležité
zintenzivnit spolupráci obou nových vlád
ohledně naplňování tzv. Zelené dohody,
např. i v rámci Česko-německého strategického dialogu.
Pan prezident Steinmeier řekl, že
vztahy mezi Českem a Německem
nemohou být lepší. V čem podle Vás
tyto vlídné vztahy spočívají?
Jsme blízkými partnery v rámci EU, NATO
i OSN. Obě naše země jsou demokracie
sdílející stejné základní hodnoty. Naše firmy, vysoké školy, výzkumné instituce i naši
vědci úzce spolupracují. Vzhledem ke klimatickým změnám a boji s pandemií covidu-19 čelíme stejným výzvám. Tisíc let jsme
sousedé. Jsme schopni spolu o minulosti
otevřeně mluvit. To vytváří důvěru a základ
pro vzájemné porozumění. A velmi důležité je, že přátelství, které naše země spojuje,
nevychází jen ze vztahů politiků, ale z každodenních vztahů občanů našich zemí.
V čem by se podle Vás mohli Češi
u Němců inspirovat, stejně i naopak?
Důležitá je teď úzká spolupráce zejména
v boji s covidem-19 a klimatickými změnami. V mnoha ohledech se toho od sebe
můžeme vzájemně dost přiučit. Například
v oblasti digitalizace je Česko oproti Německu dost napřed, což se ukázalo i v boji
s pandemií. Naproti tomu například debata
o klimatické politice je zase v Německu výrazně intenzivnější než v Česku.
Pane velvyslanče, děkujeme Vám
za rozhovor.
The Moravian-Silesian Region
as a Pioneer in the Field of Dual
Vocational Education
Andreas Künne has been Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Prague since August
17, 2021. From 2018 to 2021, he was a commissioner for the United Nations and the fight
against terrorism at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1993, he has worked at German
embassies in Copenhagen, Seoul, Brussels, Vilnius and Pretoria. He focuses on security policy and
multilateral issues.
Mr Ambassador, in what area would you
see the possibility of cooperation with
the Moravian-Silesian Region? Do you
plan to connect companies to specific or
mutual investments in the near future?
The
Moravian-Silesian
Region
is
experiencing structural changes which the
west German coal regions have already
passed and which some federal states
in eastern Germany are currently going
through. In the west, the cessation of coal
mining was generally good. When we
rely on research and modern technology
instead of coal, jobs are created that have
a future. And it is on these issues that the
dialogue with the Moravian-Silesian Region
should be strengthened. Therefore, in May,
a joint platform of the Fraunhofer Society
and the University of Mining-Technical
University of Ostrava was established. The
Moravian-Silesian Region is also a pioneer
in the field of dual vocational education,
which is also an area where it would
be good to support cooperation with
Germany. Dual education is the basis for
the successful operation not only of large
industries but also small and medium-sized
enterprises.
The theme of the Green Deal is very
resonant in Germany. What can the
Green Deal bring to the Czech Republic
and will you promote its ideas here?
EU Member States will invest in green
technologies in the coming decades, not
only to reduce their CO2 emissions but
also to ensure global competitiveness and
job security for their employees. This is
an absolutely fundamental challenge for
both Germany and the Czech Republic as
these are modern industrialized countries
whose prosperity largely depends on
these aspects. It is no coincidence that our
companies are often so actively involved
in sustainability and environmental
issues. In addition, the Czech Republic
and Germany will soon receive the first
subsidies within the EU Green Deal. This is
one of the reasons why it will be important
to intensify cooperation between the
two new governments regarding the
implementation of the so-called Green
Agreement, for example in the framework
of the Czech-German strategic dialogue.
President Steinmeier said that relations
between the Czech Republic and
Germany could not be better. What
do you think these kind relationships are?
We are close partners within the EU,
NATO and OSN. Both our countries are
democracies that share the same basic
values. Our companies, universities,
research institutions and our scientists
work closely together. Given the climate
change and the fight against the COVID-19
pandemic, we face the same challenges.
We have been neighbors for a thousand
years. We are able to talk openly about
the past. This creates trust and a basis
for mutual understanding. And it is very
important that the friendship that our
countries have in common is not only
based on the relations of politicians but on
the everyday relations of the citizens of our
countries.
How do you think the Czechs could be
inspired by the Germans and vice versa?
Close cooperation is important now,
especially in the fight against COVID-19
and climate change. In many ways, we can
learn a lot from each other. For example,
in the field of digitization, Czechia is far
ahead of Germany, which was also shown
in the fight against the pandemic. On the
other hand, the debate on climate policy,
for example, is much more intense in
Germany than in the Czech Republic.
Ambassador, thank you for the interview.
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