The Ambassador's personal message

Both in Germany and the UK, economic growth has picked up again. Let us hope the worst of the financial and economic crisis is behind us. But the challenges in making the recovery sustainable remain. There is no room for complacency. We will have to work hard on strciter rules and stricter observance of rules in the EU that will help prevent a crisis of this kind in the future.

The EU will also take a decisive step forward in a different field. The European External Action Service will be fully operational from 2011. It will render the EU's foreign policy more coherent and effective. Lady Ashton, High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, can count on our full support in facing the difficult foreign policy challenges in 2011.

However, all the hard work and the difficult decisions before us notwithstanding, we should not forget the reasons to celebrate. In 2011 Germany has the honour of hosting the 6th FIFA Women's World Cup. After the successful men's World Cup in South Africa in 2010, I am looking forward to the biggest women's football competition of all time. I have no doubt that – just as in 2006 – German fans will ensure a wonderfully hospitable atmosphere. I wish both our teams a successful tournament and hope that many British fans will be our guests during this exciting sporting event.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 will also take place in Germany after Lena's song “Satellite” won in 2010. This year's contest will be the first held by Germany since reunification. It is bound to be an exciting and eventful year.

With my warmest good wishes for 2011,

Georg Boomgaarden

German Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s