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The German-Ukraine Municipal Partnership Network has grown from 70 to 250 partnerships since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began in 2022. Around 700 mayors, city councillors and district leaders from Germany, Ukraine and other European countries are meeting in Münster today. The conference is being organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the City of Münster.

Today is the final day of the second Hamburg Sustainability Conference. German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, who opened the Conference on Monday, has exchanged ideas with partners from all over the world on how to make international climate action work, use artificial intelligence responsibly and build a just world economy. Participants have formed numerous alliances on these and other sustainability issues.

Just a few months after its launch, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform (HSP), an initiative of public and private institutions is laying the foundation for truly scaling private investment for sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries. [...] Signing a joint declaration of intent at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2025, the HSP reaffirmed their joint commitment to remove structural obstacles that so far stood in the way of mobilizing large-scale investments.

Dr Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has set off on a five-day trip to Côte d'Ivoire where the 60th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) will begin today. The election of a new AfDB President will be a key focus of the conference. The election is especially important as the continent is facing tremendous challenges, such as crisis-induced upheavals, the United States’ withdrawal from many areas of development cooperation, displacement and forced migration in Africa, and advancing climate change.

At today’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the EU member states agreed to lift all economic sanctions against Syria. Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan stated: “This is a moment of hope and a new beginning for the people of Syria. To ensure a fresh start in Syria that is peaceful and successful, it is crucial that the economy recovers and that people can meet their basic needs. Lifting the sanctions will increase Syrian society’s ability to help itself. (...)”

Reem Alabali Radovan has taken office as Development Minister. After being formally appointed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, she officially took over from her predecessor Svenja Schulze in a ceremony at the Berlin offices of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) today. Johann Saathoff was appointed Parliamentary State Secretary, and Bärbel Kofler will remain Parliamentary State Secretary at the Development Ministry (BMZ). Niels Annen will be State Secretary at the BMZ.