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Belgium-Germany relations are the bilateral relations between Belgium and Germany. Both of these are neighbouring countries and share a common 204 kilometer long landborder. [1] Both nations are members of the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO and the Eurozone.
Belgium has an embassy in Berlin, [2] a consul in Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Aachen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Bremen, while Germany has an embassy in Brussels.
Some German cities (like Hanau and Cologne) are or were traditional centres of Belgian Protestant Diaspora.[ citation needed ] German is besides Dutch and French also the third official language in Belgium. The German-speaking Community of Belgium is the smallest of the three political communities in Belgium. Belgium is participating in the annual meeting of German-speaking countries since 2014.
The biggest part of modern territory of Belgium, along with the bulk of modern Germany, and other territories, had been part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries until the end of the 18th century. The first king of Belgium after Belgium gained its independence in 1830 was Leopold I, who hailed from the aristocratic family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. To date, all Belgian kings stem from his lineage.
Belgium was invaded and occupied by Germany in the First and Second World Wars, with Belgian civilians being victims of German war crimes (see: Rape of Belgium, Vinkt massacre ). The territory currently comprising the German-speaking community in Belgium was taken from Germany following World War I, as stipulated the Treaty of Versailles as compensation for the Allied countries. In 1914, German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg formed a plan to establish a Central European Economic Union, comprising a number of European countries, including Germany and Belgium, in which, as he secretly stressed, there was to be a semblance of equality among the member states, but in fact it was to be under German leadership to cement Germany's economic hegemony over Central Europe (see also: Mitteleuropa ). [3] The plan failed amid Germany's defeat in the war.
Around 56,000 Belgians currently live in Germany, and around 40,000 Germans living in Belgium in 2021. [4] [5]
The demography of Germany is monitored by the Statistisches Bundesamt. According to the most recent data, Germany's population is 84,669,326 making it the most populous country in the European Union and the nineteenth-most populous country in the world. The total fertility rate was rated at 1.58 in 2021, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. For a long time Germany had one of the world's lowest fertility rates of around 1.3 to 1.4, however there has been a small increase in recent years. Due to the low birth rate Germany has recorded more deaths than births every year since 1972, which means 2021 was the 50th consecutive year the German population would have decreased without immigration. However, due to immigration the population has actually increased during the last half-century. In 2019 the number of people with a foreign background was 26%; this category includes foreigners, naturalized citizens, ethnic German repatriates from Eastern Europe and the children of all of the above.
North Rhine-Westphalia or North-Rhine/Westphalia, commonly shortened to NRW, is a state (Land) in Western Germany. With more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state in Germany. Apart from the city-states, it is also the most densely populated state in Germany. Covering an area of 34,084 square kilometres (13,160 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest German state by size.
Relations between France and Germany, or Franco-German relations form a part of the wider politics of Europe. The two countries have a long — and often contentious — relationship stretching back to the Middle Ages. Since 1945, they have largely reconciled, and since the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1958, they are among the founders and leading members of the European Communities and their successor the European Union.
Pakistani-Germans refers to the community in Germany of Pakistani heritage or citizenship.
The United States and Belgium maintain a friendly bilateral relationship. Continuing to celebrate cooperative U.S. and Belgian relations, 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the nations' relationship.
Germany–Italy relations are the bilateral relations between Germany and Italy. Both countries are full members of the European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and NATO. Germany has an embassy in Rome and consulates in Milan and Naples, while Italy has an embassy in Berlin and consulates in Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, and Stuttgart.
There is a significant Russian population in Germany. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered mass immigration to the West, with Germany being the top destination, mostly for economic and ethnic reasons. Russians are the 3rd largest migrant group in Germany.
Barbadian–German relations are foreign relations between Barbados and Germany. Barbados is represented in Germany through its embassy in Brussels, (Belgium) and Germany is represented in Barbados from its regional embassy for the Eastern Caribbean in Port of Spain, and an Honorary Consul in Christ Church. Barbados and Germany formally established diplomatic relations on 14 March 1967.
The Albanians in Germany refers to the Albanian migrants in Germany and their descendants. They mostly trace their origins to Albania, Kosovo and to a lesser extent to North Macedonia and other Albanian-speaking territories in the Balkan Peninsula. Their exact number is difficult to determine as some ethnic Albanians hold German, Macedonian, Serbian or another Former Yugoslavian citizenship.
Germany and Hungary are both member states of the European Union, NATO, OECD, OSCE, Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. Germany has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Berlin, two general consulates and nine honorary consulates. The Agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Hungary on 'Friendly Cooperation and Partnership in Europe' concluded on 6 February 1992 is one of the principal cornerstones of today's bilateral relations.
Germany–Serbia relations are foreign relations between Germany and Serbia. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 January 1879. Germany has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Berlin and five general consulates. There are around 505,000 people of Serbian descent living in Germany. Germany is a European Union member state and Serbia is a European Union candidate.
German–Dutch relations are diplomatic, military and cultural ties between the bordering nations of Germany and the Netherlands. Relations between the modern states started after Germany became united in 1871. Before that the Netherlands had relations with Prussia and other, smaller German-speaking nations. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO.
In the narrow sense, Lebanese people in Germany include migrants from Lebanon living in Germany and their descendants, excluding Palestinians.
Central African Republic-Germany relations are the bilateral relations between the Central African Republic (CAR) and Germany. The relations between both countries are described by the Federal Foreign Office as "problem-free, but of low intensity". Since the closure of the German Embassy in Bangui, the German Embassy in Cameroon has been responsible for relations with the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is one of the few countries that does not have its own embassy in Germany. The Central African Embassy in Paris is responsible for relations with Germany.
Germany–Somalia relations have intensified since 2012 after the political and security situation in Somalia improved, according to information from the German Foreign Office. Germany has not had an ambassador to Somalia since 1989, and the German Ambassador in Nairobi is responsible for relations with Somalia instead.
Germany–Senegal relations are the bilateral relations between Germany and Senegal. The relations are described by the German Foreign Office as "friendly." The two countries share a close partnership in development cooperation, and numerous cultural ties exist between the two countries.
Germany–Tanzania relations are the bilateral relations between Germany and Tanzania. From 1885 to 1918, Tanzania was a German colony as part of German East Africa. In the 21st century, relations are primarily characterized by the joint development cooperation.
Germany–Lebanon relations are "traditionally friendly" and "very close", according to the German Foreign Office. For Lebanon, Germany is one of the most important donor countries for the care of the numerous refugees in the country. Among the Arabs in Germany, the Lebanese are among the largest groups with almost 160,000 members (2021).
Germany–Madagascar relations are "traditionally friendly", according to the German Foreign Office. Diplomatic contacts have been maintained between the two countries since the 19th century. In the 21st century, relations between the two countries are predominantly characterized by development cooperation.
Germany–Liechtenstein relations are the diplomatic relations between Germany and Liechtenstein. Both states are members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the European Economic Area.