(L-R) Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; George Gerapetritis, Greece's Minister for Foreign Affairs; Credit: MAEE

Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, paid a working visit to Greece from Tuesday 12 September to Wednesday 13 September 2023.

The Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, received the head of Luxembourg’s diplomacy for a working meeting.

According to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the ministers took stock of the “good bilateral relations” between Luxembourg and Greece. As part of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Luxembourg and Greece, the working visit was also an opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

The meeting confirmed the broad convergence of views between the two countries on key European and international issues, such as the importance of continued support for Ukraine and strengthened engagement with the Western Balkans. They also discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Subsequently, Minister Asselborn had a meeting with the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairidis. Exchanges between the ministers focused on the migration situation at the EU's external borders, particularly with regard to the increase in migratory flows arriving in Greece. Luxembourg’s Minister of Immigration and Asylum inquired about the situation of migrants in the country and also recalled that Luxembourg has demonstrated, and is committed to continuing, its solidarity with Greece, in particular through relocation since 2015 of 335 people who arrived in the EU from this country. The pact on asylum and migration and the ongoing discussions at European level on the reform of European migration policy were also on the agenda.

Minister Asselborn also met several representatives of different international organisations and Greek civil society for an exchange of views and analyses on the migration situation in Greece.

Finally, Minister Asselborn participated in a concert marking the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Luxembourg and Greece and the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Luxembourg embassy in Athens.