Flags Germany and Luxembourg

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Federal Minister Altmaier talked on the phone with Claude Turmes, Luxembourg’s Minister for Energy and Minister for Spatial Planning, today. The talks focussed on European cohesion policy and Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2020.

Federal Minister Altmaier said: “Claude Turmes and I agree that EU structural policy plays a key role when it comes to pressing ahead with the economic recovery in the EU. Therefore we need to rapidly conclude the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and on the allocation of funds for the next programming period of the Structural Funds to ensure that the funds will be available from the beginning of 2021, if possible. This is a central plank of our Presidency of the Council of the EU.”

Germany and Luxembourg are neighbours in the EU with very close ties. In 2019, the bilateral trade volume was just under €9.04 billion. Exports to Luxembourg amounted to €5.75 billion, while imports from Luxembourg totalled €3.29 billion. In 2019, Luxembourg ranked 42nd for Germany in terms of imports, 38th in terms of exports and 39th in terms of turnover among the most important trading partners. In the same year, Germany held first place as regards exports from Luxembourg (followed by France) and second place with regard to imports (behind Belgium).