Foreign Office justifies Baerbock's EM flight
Short-haul flights are generally not acceptable for the Greens. However, the Foreign Ministry sees things differently. The Foreign Office defended Minister Annalena Baerbock's night flight with the Frankfurt flight readiness unit after criticism.
The Foreign Office rejected criticism of Minister Annalena Baerbock regarding a short-haul flight following an EM football match from Frankfurt. The discussion was sparked by the start of night flight restrictions. A spokesperson noted that it is always checked which is the best transportation option for travels of the Foreign Minister. The spokesperson also mentioned numbers: "In her function as Foreign Minister, she has flown long-haul three times and traveled by train at least four times."
The government plane with Baerbock on board took off from Frankfurt Airport, according to a report in the "Bild" newspaper, shortly before midnight on June 23 after the Germany-Switzerland EM match. Night flight restrictions apply at Frankfurt Airport between 23:00 and 5:00. Delayed starts are possible until 0:00 for "flights in special public interest." The Greens have campaigned for a climate-friendly and social transport policy.
"No Exemptions"
The spokesperson for the Foreign Office said Baerbock had traveled on to the following morning's EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg and then to the Near East. "It's simply part of the nature of the job of a Foreign Minister - ten trips to the Near East in the past months - that many of these trips must be made with the flight readiness unit because of the tight scheduling," he said. And: "Therefore, it was not a violation of rules but a normal continuation of the journey to Luxembourg within the legal framework and the existing regulations, which the flight readiness unit then carried out."
Baerbock reportedly used a backup plane ("Hot Spare") provided for Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Frankfurt. A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry responded when asked about this, stating that the flight readiness unit of the Bundeswehr keeps a second aircraft ready for especially prominent terms and persons. He added: "Whether this was the case at the European Football Championship, I have no knowledge of that."
Annalena Baerbock's night flight with the Frankfurt flight readiness unit caused a stir due to night flight restrictions, raising questions about the Green Party's stance on short-haul flights. Despite the controversy, European Football Championship 2024 is an event that may require such flight readiness for high-ranking officials with tight schedules.
