Rather important goal for international relations is to improve methods for studying of interstate dialogue. The author paysattention to the format of intergovernmental consultations. The goal of article is to explore the functioning of the format onthe example of Germany, which uses this one in the dialogue with 12 other states. The problems of the functioning of theformat are still not in the details explored in Russian political science. Usually, the format is established by one power forthe cooperation with another power or the very important ally among small and medium-sized states. The frequency of themeetings is established for each format. Compliance with frequency or violation of it, especially interruption of the work arethe indicators of the dialogue development. One meeting in the format lasts only one day and it determines the scheme ofthe negotiations. The countries should focus on the most perspective and, on the contrary, the most problematic tracks of theagenda of bilateral relations, even if these negotiation priorities differ from the conceptual guidelines for each state. The keyvariants of the end of the meeting in the format are presented.The article explores the geography and chronology of establishment of the formats with German participation. Beforethe XXI century there was the long period of time between the launch of every two new formats. In the early – mid 2010s andearly 2020s there were the waves of newly established formats. The author stresses the absence of the ones between Germanyand the Arabian states, Iran, the African ones and explains the reasons. The difficulty for Germany was also the creationof formats with the Anglo-Saxon states. Another problem has become since the mid 2010-s the “freezing” of some formats(with Russia), the long interruption of their functioning (with Brazil, Italy, Poland, Turkey), the violation of frequency (withFrance, Netherlands, Spain). The article shows the reasons of such situations in each case. At the same time there has beenstable functioning of the mechanisms with India and China, even when the confrontation between the PRC and the USA hasbegun. The author concludes that in the 2010s Germany has tried to make the system of the formats of intergovernmentalconsultations global. But by the beginning of the 2020s these efforts were unsuccessful and there was the degradation of theprocess.

The article was submitted 09.10.2023