Spain, Luxembourg Look at Strengthening Collaboration in Green Transition, Logistics

On Tuesday 21 December 2021, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, undertook a working visit to Madrid, Spain.

During this visit, Minister Asselborn met with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, at Viana Palace, the headquarters of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two ministers took stock of bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Spain. They welcomed the good relations between the two countries, particularly in the political and economic fields. They also discussed the means of strengthening collaboration and exchanges in certain key sectors, such as the green transition and investments in renewable energies, the ICT sector and the logistics field. Regarding the latter, the ministers touched on the development of the rail motorway which links Bettembourg, Luxembourg's national logistics hub, to Barcelona.

Ministers Asselborn and Albares then had an in-depth discussion on major European issues, confirming the convergence of views that exists between Spain and Luxembourg on a number of subjects, including the rule of law, migration and free movement within the European Union (EU). They notably highlighted the importance of preserving freedom of movement within the EU and the principles of the Schengen area.

The two ministers also addressed current international issues, such as the enlargement of the EU. They stressed the importance of the EU remaining engaged in the Western Balkans region. They also discussed the situation on the border between the EU and Belarus, as well as the Middle East peace process and the situation in Ukraine.