Bonn in focus: Wüst and Wadephul strengthen the UN location in NRW!

Bonn in focus: Wüst and Wadephul strengthen the UN location in NRW!

An important meeting to strengthen the UN location in Bonn was held in Düsseldorf on August 26, 2025. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst received Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul in the State Chancellery. Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery, also took part in the conversation. Wüst and Wadephul emphasized the great importance of Bonn as a location both for international politics and for shaping a sustainable future.

Bonn, as a junction between Berlin, Europe and the world, has developed into a symbol of international dialogue in recent decades. Prime Minister Wüst described the city as a reliable environment for German engagement in the United Nations, where more than 20 UN organizations are based, including UNV, UNFCCC and UNCCD. Loud mbeim.nrw There are over 170 internationally active institutions and numerous NGOs active in Bonn that contribute to global challenges.

Bonn as an international center

The federal government and the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia are working together to further strengthen Bonn as a UN location. The federal government's coalition agreement sets out the further development of the German headquarters of the United Nations in Bonn. The aim is to locate additional United Nations institutions in Bonn. Ongoing negotiations on an additional agreement to the Berlin/Bonn Act are intended to support this project.

Wadephul highlighted the need for a multilateral system to address global challenges. Bonn is increasingly seen as a center of excellence for international politics and sustainable strategies. The state government promotes international conference formats such as the “Daring Cities” conferences and the Global Media Forum in order to further establish Bonn as an important location. During COP 23 in 2017, Bonn demonstrated its international reputation as a conference location.

Research and science

Bonn is not only an important location for international politics, but also an excellent center for science and research. In recent years, several organizations have been based in Bonn, including the GWOPA Secretariat and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which will be active in Bonn with around 150 employees from 2021. The Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research was founded as part of COP 23 to promote knowledge for sustainable development.

Wüst emphasized that the planned measures also utilize the region's core competencies and the added value of the federal city of Bonn in the interests of Germany. “We have a good hand when it comes to attracting international organizations,” says Wüst. Bonn is therefore sending a strong signal for international cooperation and commitment to tackling global challenges in line with the 2030 Agenda.

The city has been the headquarters of numerous UN organizations since 1951, with Langer Eugen as the center of activities on the UN campus. Thanks to extensive efforts by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the federal government, Bonn will continue to play a key role in international diplomacy. How wikipedia reports, Bonn became the seat of government of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 and has since then continuously developed into a preferred location for international organizations.

The talks between Wüst and Wadephul are a sign of the strong will to secure and further expand Bonn as an important UN location in the long term. The commitment to the location is not just a political decision, but also a commitment to the sustainable future of the region.