Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, and other EU ministers at the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels; Credit: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April 2024.

As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the General Affairs Council began on Monday evening with a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, which saw the accession of ten new member states.

On Tuesday, Minister Bettel and his counterparts participated, together with ministers and representatives of countries aspiring to become members of the EU, in a working breakfast dedicated to the rule of law in the enlargement process. While recognising the transformational force of EU membership, Minister Bettel stressed the need for governments aspiring to join the EU to attach paramount importance to respecting the rule of law ahead of possible membership.

Subsequently, the 27 ministers responsible for European Affairs continued their discussions on the role of the rule of law in an enlarged Europe, before looking at the future of the EU. Minister Bettel underlined the importance for the European Union to continue to defend its fundamental values, starting with the rule of law, but also the Community acquis, the functioning of the internal market, Schengen and free circulation. Minister Bettel also recalled in this context the importance of the various instruments that have been put in place in recent years with the aim of protecting the rule of law within the EU.

On the sidelines of the General Affairs Council, Minister Bettel had a bilateral meeting with his Georgian counterpart, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, to discuss the security situation in the region and recent political developments in Georgia, which was granted the status of EU candidate country in December 2023, provided that the country takes the relevant measures set out in the recommendation presented by the European Commission. Minister Bettel stressed the importance of the Georgian government seizing this opportunity and carrying out the necessary reforms.