FRANKFURT (Reuters) - RWE remains open to talks with the German government about a potential foundation that would take care of the country's remaining lignite plants, its CEO said on Friday, adding Berlin would have to start any related process.

Markus Krebber, speaking to shareholders at the group's annual general meeting, also said that a sale of RWE's lignite assets, something that some shareholders have pushed for, could only happen with Berlin's consent.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Tom Kaeckenhoff, Editing by Rachel More)