H.E. Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld of Luxembourg to the US addressed a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Friday 10 July 2015 addressing the European Union’s priorities, as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg begins its 12th six-month presidency of the European Union.

In his address he talked about the unique features of the EU as well as Luxembourg’s historical role. In his remarks about the importance of EU in global affairs, he quoted former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's question “who should I call when I want to talk to Europe?” While discussing current affairs, Ambassador Wolzfeld stated that in Luxembourg “there is a capacity to listen and to make compromises.” He said Luxembourg will play the role of a natural bridge and take an inclusive approach during the EU presidency.

Among the concerns he highlighted was the high youth unemployment in Europe. His discussion of the EU priorities emphasised stimulating investment for tackling unemployment and social issues. Ambassador Wolzfeld talked about the importance of training for job growth.
About the problem of migration affecting Greece, Italy and Malta, Ambassador Wolzfeld discussed some of the voluntary measures to be taken by other EU member countries to reduce the impact on the countries that are currently bearing the burden of the influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle-East.

During his remarks in response to questions from reporters, Ambassador discussed promoting sustainable development, placing European competitiveness in a transparent global framework and strengthening the EU global presence through the Transatlantic Partnership (TTIP). He further talked about the ongoing negotiations with some European countries regarding their accession to the EU.

In response to questions about the perception of Luxembourg as a tax haven, Ambassador Wolzfeld said that the “automatic exchange of information with the tax authorities” will help reduce tax evasion. Providing historical perspective, he said that “the EU Project is the best way to confront the challenges of the time.”

Photo by C. Naseer Ahmad: Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld addressing the National Press Club in Washington DC