L-R: Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland; Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg;
Credit: © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
On Friday 10 February 2023, the Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, paid a working visit to Luxembourg.
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel first received his Finnish counterpart for a working meeting at Hôtel Saint-Maximin (Ministry of State) in Luxembourg-Ville. Discussions mainly focused on bilateral relations as well as current European and international issues. The meeting was followed by a short walk along the Chemin de la Corniche.
During the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Bettel stressed that "especially in this complex geopolitical situation, it is important to strengthen relations with our closest allies, including Finland. We share our solidarity with Ukraine and support the country and its people through our political support and military and humanitarian aid." He added that "Luxembourg fully supports Finland's accession to NATO."
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in turn noted in particular that "Finland and Luxembourg share common European values. Topics important to both of us include ambitious climate goals, human rights and equality and the rule of law. We work closely together within the EU, especially on economic issues."
Prime Minister Marin, in the presence of Luxembourg's Prime Minister, visited on this occasion the birthplace of Robert Schuman in Luxembourg-Clausen, where Catherine Léglu, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Luxembourg, and Guido Lessing, historian and research assistant at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C2DH), provided explanations concerning this place of remembrance, history and scientific research.
The working visit ended with a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Bettel in honour of his Finnish counterpart.
