Xavier Bettel at the Foreign Affairs Council of the Council of the EU

The meeting provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as an exchange of views with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Western Balkans. Other topical issues such as the situation in the Great Lakes region and Georgia were also on the agenda.

Regarding the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Minister Bettel reiterated Luxembourg's continued support for Ukraine. Luxembourg welcomes the adoption of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. We must continue to make progress on concrete measures to support Ukraine, in particular the European Peace Facility and the Ukraine Facility.

As for the situation in Gaza, Minister Bettel insisted on better access for humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza and urged the Israeli government to fully comply with the precautionary measures of the International Court of Justice. Luxembourg's head of diplomacy also stressed the need for both parties to accept the US ceasefire proposal in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735. Minister Bettel called for a rapid solution to be found with Israel for the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority that are currently being withheld by Israel, and invited the European Commission to rapidly finalise the EU's support package for the Palestinian Authority for the year 2024: "The EU must actively support the Palestinian Authority and its reform plan, which is why the payment in support of the Palestinian Authority must go ahead. Its financial collapse must be avoided."

Inauguration ceremony for the Star of the Republic of Croatia in Schengen

On the fringes of the ACE meeting, Minister Bettel and his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić-Radman, travelled to Schengen to officially inaugurate the Star of the Republic of Croatia in front of the "Schengen Agreements" monument, after Croatia became the 27th country to join the Schengen area on 1 January 2007.

Informal dinner and reception at the Grand Ducal Palace

At the invitation of Minister Bettel, some forty Prime Ministers, European Commissioners, Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers then gathered for an informal dinner. Prior to this informal exchange, these European and African government members were received in audience by HRH the Grand Duke at the Grand Ducal Palace.  

Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade