The official visit began with military honours on the place Clairefontaine. After the meeting, Bettel noted that Lux-Czech relations date back some 700 years to the birth of Charles IV, the son of John the Blind, who is known as Jan Lucembursky in Czech. The Luxembourg premier also said that the two countries are on the same page on many fronts. “For example, we are committed to deepening the single market--including the digital single market--and we would like to see the next Commission make this one of its priorities.”

Today, 8 November, Babiš has an audience with Grand Duke Henri, after which he and Bettel are set to have a working lunch. Later they will be joined by Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer in laying a wreath in Jan Palach square, just off the place d’Armes, which is named after the Czech student who self-immolated in protest against the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact armies. They will also visit the cathedral where Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich will give them a tour, including another wreath laying, this time at the grave of John the Blind.