Berlin CDU parliamentary group travels to Warsaw on Friday
The Berlin CDU parliamentary group is traveling to the Polish capital Warsaw from Friday to Sunday for a closed meeting. The plan is to discuss several topics of state politics in group work, CDU parliamentary group leader Dirk Stettner told journalists on Friday evening. Among other things, a trip to the National Stadium, the largest stadium in Poland, is planned. "We will talk about the Olympics, we will talk about the year 2036," said Stettner with a view to Berlin's possible participation in the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.
Stettner announced that former Olympic discus champion and multiple European and world champion Robert Harting would be traveling to Warsaw to advise the MPs on the topic. Harting will continue to publicly support the Berlin Olympic plans "as an ambassador".
Another topic of the retreat will be urban planning: the CDU MPs want to take a look at the Varso Tower by Foster + Partners and talk to members of the team of star architect Norman Foster. At more than 310 meters high, the Varso Tower is the tallest building in Poland - and also in the European Union. The background to the talks is the question of how much Berlin could benefit from more high-rise buildings.
The Berlin architect Christoph Langhof, who has made headlines with his design for two high-rise buildings in Prenzlauer Berg that are reminiscent of pyramids, will be present in Warsaw to discuss this topic. According to Stettner, in view of the housing shortage, the key question is where and how more can be built in Berlin. "We can imagine significantly more high-rise buildings." Stettner named remembrance and commemoration as the third topic of the closed meeting - for example of the Second World War and the Holocaust.
The decision to hold a closed meeting in Warsaw was made before the parliamentary elections in Poland, said Stettner. In mid-October, an alliance of three opposition parties won a majority of seats. The former national conservative governing party Law and Justice (PiS) became the strongest party, but did not receive an absolute majority. Stettner emphasized that Berlin wanted to intensify its city partnership with Warsaw. Good, trusting relations with the neighboring Polish country are necessary.
The MPs will fly to Warsaw on Friday and return on Sunday. According to Stettner, the tour group consists of 110 people in total.
During their trip, the Berlin CDU parliamentary group plans to visit the National Stadium in Warsaw and discuss the Olympics, potentially Berlin's participation in the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games. Forming part of their urban planning discussions, the group will examine the Varso Tower by Foster + Partners, currently the tallest building in Poland and the EU.
The House of Representatives and the Senate in Berlin will undoubtedly be interested in learning about the architectural successes and innovative urban planning strategies observed during this visit, potentially influencing future building projects in their own cities, such as the Olympic Games facility or high-rise buildings aimed at addressing the housing shortage, like Christoph Langhof's pyramid-like structures in Prenzlauer Berg.
Source: www.dpa.com
