Annual German-Speaking Heads of State Meeting

Participating Countries

Each year the Heads of State from countries where German is an official language hold a 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 is usually 2 days long  

The annual meeting reflects the close relations enjoyed by the German-speaking neighbours and centres 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: 

• King Philippe & Queen Mathilde of Belgium
• Hereditary Prince Alois & Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein
• Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

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, like Knee Surgery in 2014, have also prevented her from attending. Since she has only attend twice when the Meeting was held outside of Luxembourg, her attendance is noted for the years she did attend. 

Year	Host	Notes
2024	Luxembourg	Sept 16th- 17th 20th Summit
2023	Belgium	Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg attended. 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 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.

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 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. 

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