L-R: Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium; Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg Prime Minister; Miro Cerar, Slovenian Prime Minister; Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands;
Credit: ME
On 5 and 6 February 2018, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel attended the Benelux-Slovenian Heads of Government Summit in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
At the invitation of Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar, Prime Minister and Minister of State Xavier Bettel participated in the Benelux-Slovenian Heads of Government Summit in Ljubljana earlier this week, together with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Belgium, Didier Reynders.
The discussions focused on European political news, notably Brexit, the Schengen area and the future of the European Union.
Moreover, in the framework of a joint declaration, the European Social Agenda was adopted, notably on an economic and monetary union, the internal market and the budget. The four countries agreed that the Union must benefit its citizens more and strengthen its capacity to protect and act.
During the exchange of views on Brexit, the Prime Minister said that it comes down to a "damage control exercise" for both the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and the European Union. Regarding the Schengen area, Xavier Bettel stressed that the situation at the internal borders of the European Union should be normalised, as well as the importance of the free circulation area for Luxembourg. Finally, he reiterated his wish for a European Union "working in the interest of its citizens and getting closer to them".
