The two countries are firmly committed to the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel project, which is to link Scandinavia and Germany.

At their meeting in Copenhagen, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt praised the exceptionally good neighbourly relations between the two countries. "At no time in history have our two countries enjoyed such fantastic relations as they do today," said Denmark’s head of government.

"We are close neighbours. Our border regions and our minorities are exemplary throughout the world for good relations," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt. And Angela Merkel added, "We have a Danish minority in Germany and a German minority in Denmark, who act as bridge-builders between our two countries."

A major joint project – the Fehmarnbelt fixed link

The excellent neighbourly relations are also reflected in a major bilateral project: the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel. The German government stands by the treaty signed by the ministers of transport of the two countries, and will do everything it can to ensure that the landworks and intersections are in place on the German side, assured Angela Merkel, so that "this new connection which will bring Europe closer together can become reality".

The realisation of the project will further enhance German-Danish relations, said Helle Thorning-Schmidt, "both economic links and the links forged between the German and the Danish people".

The construction of a fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt between Denmark and Germany is a European transport project. It provides for a 17.6 km long tunnel, and the development of rail and road links on both the German and the Danish sides.

High level of agreement on global challenges

"Denmark and Germany are equal partners and have similar views on many international matters," said the Danish Prime Minister. "We very much appreciate Germany’s role around the world, as economic anchor in Europe, mediator in Ukraine, and in stabilising Afghanistan. Germany accepts its responsibility everywhere."

"We have very close contacts on economic development matters, both in terms of bilateral development and in terms of European development as a whole," said Angela Merkel. She praised the way Germany’s neighbour to the north "thinks and acts independently, and works to ensure its own economic strength".

It is not only in the economic sphere that the two countries cooperate closely, the Chancellor underscored. There is also a high level of agreement on the way the two countries assess global challenges, including the Ukraine crisis and the refugee flows across the Mediterranean from Africa and the Middle East to Europe.

Before the talks with the Danish Prime Minister, the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, received the Chancellor. Angela Merkel and Helle Thorning-Schmidt later visited the University of Copenhagen together, and discussed European issues with students.