Duitsland en Polen intensiveren de betrekkingen (en)

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has called for closer co-ordination with Poland, similar to Germany's co-operation with France.

"So far we have co-ordination only with France. A similar process with Poland shows the equal value we attach to relations with both East and West", said the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on a visit to Krakow on Thursday (4 November), according to Deutsche Welle.

As a first step both Poland and Germany have named special coordinators to improve their bilateral ties.

Germany has appointed Gesine Schwan, head of European University Viadrina at Frankfurt on Oder, as its new coordinator for relations with Poland.

The Polish coordinator for German relations will be Irena Lipowicz, formerly Poland's ambassador to Austria.

No war compensations

The Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka and the German Chancellor also used their meeting in Krakow to declare an end to recent rows over World War II compensation claims.

An estimated 2.5 million ethnic Germans were expelled or fled from Poland when Germany's borders shifted at the end of World War II. Some of them have threatened to take their claims for repatriations to Polish and European courts.

In response, the Polish parliament (10 September) adopted a resolution calling for reparations for the "costs brought on by German aggression, occupation and genocide".

A commission of lawyers from both countries has now concluded that demands for reparations from Germany are "without foundation."