Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel;
Credit: SIP / Yves Kortum
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel took part in the European Council in Brussels on Thursday 15 December 2022.
Heads of State and Government met in Brussels to discuss Russia's war on Ukraine, energy and the economy, security and defence, the European Union's (EU) Southern Neighbourhood and external relations.
In the context of the energy crisis, EU leaders took stock of the progress made on the decisions they took at the European Council in October 2022, notably on accelerating and intensifying efforts to reduce energy demand, avoid rationing, ensure security of supply and lower energy prices.
Luxembourg's Prime Minister notably highlighted "the progress on the emergency regulation relating to solidarity in the event of a supply disruption and the creation of a mechanism for the joint purchase of natural gas and on the emergency regulation relating to the acceleration of the authorisation procedures for renewable energy projects." He added: "These regulations are essential elements of the response to the crisis and must be adopted without delay."
During their exchanges, EU leaders welcomed the progress made and instructed energy ministers to find a final agreement on a market control mechanism at their next meeting on 19 December 2022.
During the deliberations on transatlantic relations, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel highlighted the path of dialogue in order to seek concrete solutions so that European economic operators do not suffer from discrimination under the Inflation Reduction Act.
In the same context, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sent a letter to EU Heads of State and Government on the subject of strengthening the European industrial sector, a subject which will be on the agenda of an extraordinary Council in February 2023. Reacting to this letter, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel underlined the need to maintain European competitiveness, particularly in the field of green and digital transitions.
As for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Luxembourg's Prime Minister emphasised the fight against impunity and the establishment of instruments to prosecute crimes of aggression and war crimes.
EU leaders also finalised a ninth package of sanctions against Russia.
