(L-R) Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, Minister of State; Credit: © SIP/Julien Warnand

On Tuesday 15 March 2022, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, paid an official visit to Luxembourg.

As part of her visit to the Grand Duchy, the President was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Minister of State, Xavier Bettel, at the Hôtel Saint-Maximin for a working meeting; PM Bettel congratulated Ms Metsola on her recent election as President of the European Parliament.

Their discussion made it possible to address the international situation linked to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. President Metsola and PM Bettel stressed the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open and at the highest level in order to put in place a ceasefire as soon as possible. PM Bettel said "The EU is united. As President of the European Parliament, Ms Metsola represents the values ​​of democracy in Europe. These values ​​are untouchable. Vladimir Putin wanted to divide the West – he succeeded in the opposite: Europeans speak with one voice – that of peace".

PM Bettel and President Metsola underlined that this year is the 70th anniversary of the presence of the European Parliament in Luxembourg.

PM Bettel added: "The government attaches great importance to a strong presence, both qualitatively and quantitatively, of the European Parliament and its services in Luxembourg. The new Konrad Adenauer Building bears witness to the European Parliament's long-term commitment to its presence in Luxembourg and we welcome this. We are convinced of the opportunity to explore together ways to further strengthen the presence of the European Parliament in Luxembourg, including by taking full advantage of the digital ecosystem in Luxembourg".

Other current European topics were also discussed in their meeting.

President Metsola then went to the Mansfeld building where she was received by the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn. President Metsola and Minister Asselborn also addressed the topic of the war in Ukraine. In this context, Minister Asselborn deplored the deterioration of the humanitarian situation on the ground and the intensification of Russian military operations against major Ukrainian cities. However, he welcomed the European response to the influx of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, both the general solidarity of European populations and the activation of the temporary mechanism for all war refugees from Ukraine. They also discussed measures adopted by the EU in response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the introduction of a new sanctions package.

President Metsola and Minister Asselborn also discussed the presence of the European Parliament in Luxembourg. Minister Asselborn welcomed the close relations between Luxembourg and the European Parliament, emphasising that Luxembourg is proud and fully aware of its role as the historic seat of the European institutions, including the European Parliament and its General Secretariat.

President Metsola and Minister Asselborn also discussed several European issues, including in particular the overhaul of the Schengen area, the migration issue, the protection of the rule of law within the European Union as well as the Conference on the future of Europe, all of these subjects having been marked by the current context of the war in Ukraine.