On 17 February 1990, the German Conservative-Liberal daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the issue of the cost of German reunification.

On 6 April 1990, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses the arguments for and against the application of a 1:1 rate for the conversion of the East German mark into the West German mark after the reunification of Germany.

On 24 April 1990, the Bavarian daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung comments on the decision taken by Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), to apply the exchange rate of one East German mark to one West German mark.

On 18 May 1990, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) sign in Bonn the Treaty establishing a Monetary, Economic and Social Union.

On 18 May 1990, in Bonn, in the presence of Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the FRG, and Lothar de Maizière, Head of the East German Government, the Finance Ministers Walter Romberg (GDR) and Theodor Waigel (FRG) sign the Treaty establishing a Monetary, Economic and Social Union between the two German states. From left to right (foreground): Walter Romberg and Theodor Waigel; (background): Lothar de Maizière and Helmut Kohl

On 18 May 1990, in Bonn, to the applause of Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the FRG, and Lothar de Maizière, leader of the East German Government, the Finance Ministers Theodor Waigel (FRG) and Walter Romberg (GDR) sign the Treaty establishing a Monetary, Economic and Social Union. From left to right: Lothar de Maizière, Walter Romberg, Helmut Kohl and Theodor Waigel.

On 18 May 1990, at the signing of the Treaty establishing an economic, monetary and social union between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Chancellor Helmut Kohl emphasises the historic impact of the agreement.

On 18 May 1990, at the signing of the Treaty establishing an economic, monetary and social union between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Lothar de Maizière, Prime Minister in the East German Government, emphasises the importance of the agreement for the reunification of Germany.

On 29 June 1990, the British left-wing daily newspaper The Guardian expresses its fears about the optimism of the Bundesbank and the OECD with regard to the monetary, economic and social union between the two Germanys.

In his memoirs, Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), recalls the signing of the Treaty establishing a Monetary, Economic and Social Union between the FRG and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on 18 May 1990.

‘This way, Helmut …’ In 1990, faced with vexed European countries and partners, Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), puts his full weight behind the decision to replace the former East German mark with the Deutschmark in the territories of the German Democratic Republic.