Dear Mayor Dulkiewicz,
Chairwoman of the City Council of Gdańsk Owczarczak,
Consul General Klause,
Deputy Voivode Rojek,
Prime Minister Günther,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to this joint reception hosted by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the State of Schleswig-Holstein, the German Consulate in Gdańsk, and the City of Gdańsk.
As we can see, this is an impressive historic town hall of a proud Hanseatic city. And it is a great pleasure to see so many friends and partners of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein gathered here this evening.
Northern Germany and Pomerania, Gdańsk and Hamburg, have long enjoyed close and trusted relations — dating back to the Hanseatic era and even earlier. For centuries, the Baltic Sea and its waterways have connected us.
Thanks to our geographical location and our ports, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein serve as an important gateway to the Baltic region, linking it with global markets. With Europe’s third-largest port, a strong industrial base, and a clear commitment to renewable energy, the Hamburg metropolitan region is among Europe’s leading economic areas.
For the Port of Hamburg, the Baltic Sea is the second most important shipping region, with a container volume of around 1.5 million TEU in 2025.
At a time when global trade routes are shifting due to geopolitical developments, Hamburg and Poland remain reliable partners, with a total trade volume of more than 5 billion euros. Poland is the fourth-largest partner of the Port of Hamburg in seaborne container transport - after China, the United States, and Singapore.
More than ten percent of Poland’s container trade pass through Hamburg, often via the ports of Gdańsk and Gdynia. In 2025, Poland’s economy grew by more than three percent, well above the EU average. Lithuania and Latvia, which we will also visit this week, likewise recorded strong growth of over 2.5 percent.
Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein already cooperate closely with Polish partners within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and other frameworks.
We cooperate on
- strengthening the resilience of ports in uncertain times,
- promoting sustainable mobility and improving infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians,
- introducing green hydrogen in airport operations,
- advancing urban air mobility and the use of drones for infrastructure inspection,
- and supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the labour market.
Ladies and gentlemen,
45 years ago, Solidarność was founded here in Gdańsk. Its legacy has profoundly shaped Europe as we know it today. The courage and determination of the shipyard workers not only transformed Poland’s political system but also contributed to the end of the division of Europe and the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Today, after decades of peace and prosperity, the world has become more challenging and complex. War and geopolitical tensions are causing great suffering, reshaping security structures, and disrupting trade and supply chains. This makes it all the more important to work closely with strong and reliable partners who share our values.
At the same time, change creates opportunities.
Together, we can drive digital transformation in business and government, strengthen cybersecurity, deepen our economic ties, and make our energy systems more independent and sustainable. We can also develop new technologies in the field of security and defense that benefit both military and civilian applications.
In March, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the Matthiae Mahl in Hamburg—the world’s oldest banquet.
Both underlined the importance of European sovereignty and international cooperation at this geopolitical turning point. Their message was clear: a strong common foundation for defense is essential for the European Union, and sustained investment in this area depends on a strong economic base.
With this joint visit by Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, we hope to further strengthen our ties with Poland and the Baltic States and contribute to the economic, social, and political resilience of our regions.
Dear Mayor Dulkiewicz,
on behalf of the Senate of Hamburg, the Government of Schleswig-Holstein, and our entire delegation, I would like to thank you sincerely for your warm hospitality and for making it possible for us to gather here today in this beautiful hall.
I would also like to thank the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area, the Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Pomerania Development Agency, and the German-Polish Chamber of Commerce for their valuable insights and their support in organizing our visit.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I wish you an inspiring evening filled with interesting conversations and new ideas for the future of our collaboration, guided by our shared Hanseatic heritage and European spirit of solidarity.
Let's enjoy the evening! Thank you very much.
