The president of the Swiss Confederation received the prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, for an official visit. Luxembourg will take over the presidency of the European Union for the second half of 2015.
Visit of the prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel
Wednesday, 17.09.2014 – Wednesday, 17.09.2014
Official visit; Public event
Location: Neuchâtel
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Premierminister Xavier Bettel und Bundespräsident Didier Burkhalter spazieren am Ufer des Neuenburgersees. © EDA EDA
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Bundespräsident Didier Burkhalter hat den luxemburgischen Premierminister in Neuenburg empfangen. © EDA EDA
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Premierminister Xavier Bettel und Bundespräsident Didier Burkhalter und die Präsidentin des Gemeinderats der Stadt Neuenburg, Christine Gaillard, besuchen die in Neuenburg ansässige Firma Spectratime.© EDA EDA
As a multilingual state, major financial centre and neighbour of France and Germany, Luxembourg has much in common with Switzerland. In addition, the two countries maintain excellent relations. The many activities planned for the prime minister of Luxembourg's visit to Switzerland are further evidence of this.
In the morning, the president of the Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, received the prime minister of Luxembourg in Neuchâtel. The two men visited Spectratime, a company based in Neuchâtel specialising in the production of atomic clocks, GPS and space navigational applications. The visit took place within the context of the Swiss-Luxembourg co-presidency of the European Space Agency (ESA) from 2012 to the end of 2016.
Presidency of the European Union in 2015
President Burkhalter presented Switzerland's policy on Europe to the prime minister of Luxembourg. Luxembourg is an important discussion partner on this topic since it will take over the presidency of the European Union for the second half of 2015.
President Burkhalter also recalled Switzerland's priorities within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and addressed the situation in Ukraine. Other items for discussion included the automatic exchange of information in fiscal matters and cooperation between the two countries in the context of the United Nations.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Bettel met Federal Councillors Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Federal Department Justice and Police (FDJP), and Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) in Bern.
