Xavier Bettel Meets Angela Merkel and Wolfgang Schäuble in Berlin

Today, on 19 February 2018, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble in Berlin.

As part of his working visit to the German capital, Xavier Bettel discussed current affairs such as the future of the European Union and Brexit with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

During these discussions, Xavier Bettel once again pointed out that the EU is currently undergoing historical change and this is a major challenge for member states: "Negotiating Britain's exit from the European Union is both a challenge and an opportunity for change. Luxembourg will closely monitor, accompany and influence this process. We will make sure that Brexit does not develop into a disadvantage for any of the other 27 member states, be it in terms of rights and obligations or competitiveness vis-à-vis third countries, including the United Kingdom.”

The meeting with the Federal Chancellor was also preceded by preparations for the informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State/Government on 23 February 2018 in Brussels. Xavier Bettel and Angela Merkel exchanged views on the EU's multiannual financial framework as well as on institutional issues such as the transnational election lists or the debate over the top candidates in the European elections.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel met Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble for an interview, during which they talked about the challenges facing the EU in the coming months and years and the role that national parliaments have to play in this.