German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived Tuesday in Sweden for talks with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven that were expected to centre on migration, job creation and Britain's exit from the EU. "We are still facing many major challenges in Europe, and it is important for Sweden to be able to cooperate with Germany," Lofven said in remarks published on the government's website ahead of the visit. He mentioned creating jobs and economic growth as well as "security, and to ensure that the EU is better able to deal with the refugee situation." Before meeting Lofven, Merkel met King Carl XVI Gustaf and German-born Queen Silvia at the royal palace. An aide to Lofven, Hans Dahlgren, recently said the Swedish premier aimed to discuss with Merkel Britain's plans to leave the European Union as well as migration. As Britain prepares to leave the EU, Stockholm has moved to work closer with Berlin within the bloc. Germany and Sweden have been top recipients of migrants entering the EU in recent years. Germany is also a key trading partner for Sweden, accounting for about one-tenth of the Scandinavian country's exports. Merkel was welcomed at Stockholm's Arlanda airport by Mikael Damberg, minister for enterprise and innovation. Before Merkel leaves Sweden, she and Lofven were scheduled to address a seminar titled "Innovation and co-operation for a sustainable future." Lofven, a Social Democrat, became prime minister in 2014. Merkel visited Sweden in June 2014 at the invitation of then premier Fredrik Reinfeldt, a conservative, when Reinfeldt hosted an informal mini-summit of European leaders.
