Each year, the Heads of State from countries where German is an official language hold an informal meeting. The location of the meeting will rotate each year, with each country taking turns hosting. The meeting has been held in June or September in recent years. And it is usually a 2-day event.
The annual meeting reflects the close relations enjoyed by the German-speaking neighbors and centers on current domestic and foreign policy issues. The Heads of State are usually accompanied by their spouses, who will have their own program of cultural/philanthropic events.
The meeting is attended by:
- Austria
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Belgium (Joined 2014)
- Liechtenstein (Joined 2005)
- Luxembourg (Joined 2014)
2014-Present
Belgium and Luxembourg were invited to attend for the first time in 2014. Both Countries have German as an Official/Administrative Language, but it is spoken by a minority.
Royals attending each year:
- Belgium
- King Philippe & Queen Mathilde
- Liechtenstein
- Hereditary Prince Alois & Hereditary Princess Sophie
- Luxembourg
- Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (2014-2025)
- Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
- Grand Duke Guillaume (2026? -)
- Grand Duchess Stephanie (2026?-)
| Year | Host | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | – | |
| 2026 | Austria | First meeting during Grand Duke Guillaume’s reign. |
| 2025 | Switzerland | Last meeting during Grand Duke Henri’s reign. |
| 2024 | Luxembourg | 20th Summit Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. |
| 2023 | Belgium | Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. The Austrian President did not stay for Day 2 |
| 2022 | Liechtenstein | Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen was unable to attend. |
| 2021 | Germany | |
| 2020 | Not held due to the pandemic | |
| 2019 | Austria | |
| 2018 | Switzerland | Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. |
| 2017 | Luxembourg | Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. |
| 2016 | Belgium | The President of Austria did not attend. |
| 2015 | Liechtenstein | |
| 2014 | Germany | Belgium & Luxembourg are invited for the first time. |
Note:
While Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will occasionally join her husband on international trips, she is more often absent due to her fear of flying. Health issues, such as knee surgery in 2014, have also prevented her from attending. Since she has not attended more often, her attendance is noted for the years she did attend.
2005-2013
During the earlier years, only countries with German as a primary language were invited (I.e., Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein).
| Year | Host | Hereditary Prince Alois |
Hereditary Princess Sophie |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Austria | X | X | |
| 2012 | Switzerland | X | ? | |
| 2011 | Liechtenstein | X | X | |
| 2010 | Germany | X | ? | |
| 2009 | Austria | X | X | Germany did not attend due to swearing in. |
| 2008 | Switzerland | X | ? | |
| 2007 | Liechtenstein | X | ? | |
| 2006 | Germany | X | ? | |
| 2005 | Austria | X | ? |
2004
This informal meeting was the idea of the then President of Austria, Joseph Deiss as they wanted a meeting of the three countries that border Lake Constance, AKA “Bodensee.”
The meeting was held in Switzerland on November 20th, and involved only Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It was agreed at this meeting that this should become an annual event and that Liechtenstein should be invited next year.
Liechtenstein does not border Lake Constance, but is down the Rhine River.
Annual Events By Country
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