After initial talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Federal Chancellery, Chancellor Angela Merkel underscored the importance of cooperation between the two countries. Even where there are differences of opinion, she would like to see "the desire of both countries to get on together as the spirit of our cooperation".

Dialogue on common activities

With a view to concrete cooperation the Chancellor said, "We will be re-examining some activities to determine to what extent the new Greek government wishes to continue things." She pointed to the EU Task Force for Greece set up by the European Commission and to the commitments Germany has accepted in this context. "We have agreed to engage in dialogue about changes in the health system and in the field of local administration."

Keeping alive the awareness of the National Socialist era

Commenting on Greece’s call for reparations for injustices suffered during the Second World War Angela Merkel said, "As we have already stated the reparations question is closed in both political and legal terms in the view of the German government."

At the same time the Chancellor pointed out that the German government is very much aware of the atrocities committed in Greece during the Nazi regime – as pointed out by Federal President Joachim Gauck during his state visit to Greece last year. Many people in Germany are perhaps not as aware of the facts as they should be. The awareness of this history led to the establishment of the German-Greek Future Fund. The two countries are to keep the lines of communication open on these aspects of cooperation. "Germany takes its responsibility to keep this awareness alive and not to shelf it extremely seriously. And this is the spirit in which we will continue our talks with Greece."

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Reforms needed

Another central issue discussed at the meeting was the Greek debt crisis. Angela Merkel looked back at the resolutions made by the Eurogroup at its meeting on 20 February. These form the starting point for further work. "I will say only that we want to see a strong and robust Greek economy," she stressed. Greece needs growth. It must overcome its high unemployment, especially the extremely high rate of youth unemployment. To achieve this structural reforms will be needed, along with a sound budget and smoothly functioning administration.

At the meeting of the European Council last week in Brussels she also stated clearly, "It is important that the key economic figures are sound, that means it is important which sort of reforms are implemented." Greece must discuss this with the three institutions. Angela Merkel stressed, "Germany is not the institution that decides whether or not the reform programme is right or adequate. The reform programme will be evaluated by the three institutions and the decisions will be made within the Eurogroup."