Bilateral cooperation In parallel with the direct contacts at the level of the executive branch, the contacts at the parliamentary level have also been strengthened. In 2011, a delegation headed by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the German Bundestag visited Liechtenstein. More recently, the first meetings at the level of the presidents of parliament of both countries took place in June 2012, when Liechtenstein President of Parliament Arthur Brunhart visited the President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert, in Berlin. The return visit by the President of the Bundestag to Liechtenstein took place in October 2012. Similarly positive developments in diplomatic visits and direct contacts have occurred at the level of the federal states. These contacts have become more important especially due to the conclusion of the tax cooperation agreements, since most treaties and implementing legislation must also be approved by the German Bundesrat, i.e. the house of parliament represen­ting the federal states. The good cultural contacts between the two countries have been especially important over the past four years. In the field of visual arts, there have been vibrant exchange projects for many years already: with Weimar in Thuringia since 1989, nearly every year alternately in Liechtenstein or Weimar. In August and September 2012, the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein presented its Arte Povera collection as part of the renowned Weimar Arts Festival. With Berlin/TreptowKöpenick, there has been a regular exchange of artists since 1997, alternately in Berlin and Liechtenstein. The workshop residence in Berlin for artists from Liechtenstein also plays an important role and promotes the desired direct contact among artists from both countries. Projects relating to the shared German language are also being developed. For instance, inten­ sified cooperation with the German Goethe-Institut starting in 2012 is planned, by way of a project in which books from Liechtenstein will be donated to the the Goethe-Institut libraries all around the world (initial donation by the Fürst Franz-Josef von Liechtenstein Foundation). The Liechtenstein Government will then take over ongoing maintenance and donations over the coming years. An especially gratifying cooperation project occurred in 2011 and 2012 with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. As part of this cooperation project, two chamber music pieces by composers from Liechtenstein were premiered in Berlin in 2012. After long preparations, a joint postage stamp by Germany and Liechtenstein was issued in June 2012 as a cross-ministerial project. The step is seen as a sign of friendly cooperation on both sides. The motif is the Pfälzer Hütte, a mountain cabin established more than 80 years ago in the Liechtenstein Alps by enthusiastic mountaineers from the Palatinate. Overall, the relations between Liechtenstein and Germany today are considerably stronger and more broadly based than even just a few years ago. Also in view of the further development of the EU, the importance of the Federal Republic of Germany to its German-speaking neighbouring countries – which include Liechtenstein in a broader sense – will further increase. | 31