Jean Asselborn on Working Visit to Paris

Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has reported that, at the invitation of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, paid a working visit to Paris yesterday, 30 November 2020.

Minister Asselborn was received there by his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, for a bilateral meeting at the Quai d´Orsay, the seat of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The working meeting was an opportunity for Ministers Asselborn and Le Drian to take stock of bilateral relations between Luxembourg and France, including in the cross-border field. In this context, the head of Luxembourg’s diplomacy welcomed the close cooperation between the Luxembourg and French authorities in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, both at bilateral or EU level.

The meeting between Minister Asselborn and his French counterpart also allowed for an exchange of views on European and international news. In this context, ministers Asselborn and Le Drian notably addressed issues related to the European recovery plan and respect for the rule of law, future relations between the EU and the United Kingdom, as well as relations with the United Kingdom (post-Brexit), Turkey and the Middle East Peace Process. The Ministers also had an exchange of views on the future of NATO, on the eve of the Alliance's foreign ministers' meeting. Minister Asselborn also wished to express Luxembourg's full solidarity with France and the French people in the context of the fight against terrorism and all forms of violent extremism.

As part of the working visit, Minister Asselborn also met with Franck Riester, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Foreign Trade and Attractiveness. At the centre of this meeting was the trade policy of the European Union, including in particular the review of trade policy, the consideration of sustainable development in trade policy, the EU's free trade agreement with Mercosur countries, safeguard measures in the field of steel and even trade relations with China and the United States.

In this context, Minister Asselborn spoke in favour of strengthening European industrial policy, while stressing the need to support the green and digital transition. Ministers Asselborn and Riester agreed on the need for a coherent trade policy on sustainable development. In this regard, Minister Asselborn said that he was in favour of the Paris Agreement becoming an essential clause for agreements to be concluded in the future. Finally, Ministers Asselborn and Riester also discussed future trade relations with the United States and expressed their hope that a new commitment to cooperation with EU member states will emerge.