I am deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden death of my predecessor Philipp Mißfelder.

He showed great commitment to transatlantic relations in his work, both as Foreign Affairs Spokesman of his parliamentary group and as Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation in 2014. I would like to express my gratitude to him for this.

Philipp Mißfelder played a key role in defining and representing Germany’s foreign policy positions. He constantly and repeatedly questioned preconceived ideas before arriving at a sound judgement. This intrinsic independence and his recognised expertise led him to receive high approval, across party lines.

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his wife and two small children who live in Recklinghausen.