Prime Minister Sobotka met with Chancellor Merkel

The meeting took place during Prime Minister Sobotka’s visit to the headquarters of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Under the new strategic dialogue, priority areas for cooperation between the individual ministries of the Czech and German governments will be clearly defined. Cooperation will also lead to regular meetings between the heads of government, with the participation of ministers responsible for the areas under discussion. Other topics addressed during the joint meeting included cooperation between the two countries in the areas of science and research, the energy union, current European issues and, for example, the introduction of a minimum wage in Germany and a toll on German motorways.

Prime Minister Sobotka and Chancellor Merkel also discussed preparations for the June session of the European Council, where the topics will include security and defence policies, the situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia, as well as the completion of the Single Digital Market.

Today’s meeting between the Prime Minister and Chancellor Merkel followed on from a joint meeting last March, which was the first occasion for them to hold discussions since the creation of the new Czech Government.

During today’s visit to Germany, the Prime Minister also met with major German investors, visited the Topography of Terror memorial and met with Sigmar Gabriel, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. Today, the Prime Minister will also give a lecture at Humboldt University.