STORY: Friedrich Merz hosted the third so-called North Sea Summit in Hamburg on Monday (January 26) where government leaders of neighbouring countries were to discuss energy supply and North Sea security, according to the German chancellor.

Merz told reporters outside Hamburg city hall that the construction of offshore facilities should be sped up and would be one of the major topics discussed.

Merz had invited the leaders of Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Norway.

A signing ceremony, followed by a press conference with Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Belgian Premier Bart De Wever was scheduled for 5:15 P.M. (1615 GMT).

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Germany’s Merz hosts summit with North Sea neighbours to discuss energy supply, security

VIDEO SHOWS: GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ COMMENTING ON ENERGY SUPPLY AND NORTH SEA’S SECURITY BEFORE HOSTING SUMMIT WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES’ LEADERS, AMONG THEM DENMARK’S METTE FREDERIKSEN

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: HAMBURG, GERMANY (JANUARY 26, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1 GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ STEPPING OUT OF CAR AND WALKING TO MICROPHONE

2. FLAGS OUTSIDE HAMBURG CITY HALL

3. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, FRIEDRICH MERZ, SAYING:

"Today, we want to talk about two major topics. First, the energy supply in our countries. As you know, we have already built a large number of offshore facilities. This should continue apace. And second, the major topic that has been occupying us for many years, namely safety in the North Sea which has become particularly topical in recent weeks. This will also be a topic of our discussions today here in Hamburg.”

4. CAR WITH DANISH FLAG CARRYING PRIME MINISTER METTE FREDERIKSEN PULLING UP OUTSIDE CITY HALL, FREDERIKSEN STEPPING OUT AND ENTERING BUILDING

5. FREDERIKSEN WALKING UP STAIRS AND BEING WELCOMED BY MERZ AND HAMBURG MAYOR AND STATE PREMIER PETER TSCHENTSCHER, FREDERIKSEN HEARD SAYING “I COULDN’T GO WITH THE PLANE, WE HAD TO DRIVE”

6. NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE WALKING UP STAIRS AND BEING WELCOMED BY TSCHENTSCHER BEFORE MERZ JOINS THEM FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

7. STOERE SPEAKING TO MERZ

8. TSCHENTSCHER AND LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER LUC FRIEDEN GESTURING AS MERZ ARRIVES, THE THREE POSE FOR CAMERAS