Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Prime Minister;
Credit: © SIP / Thierry Monasse
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel took part in the Global Gateway Forum, the European Council and the Euro Summit in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 October 2023.
As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of State, during the Global Gateway Forum, Prime Minister Bettel held bilateral discussions with Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cape Verde. Discussions with the latter focused in particular on the cooperation of the two countries in the field of renewable energy.
Prime Minister Bettel also delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the forum during which he notably stressed the importance of the European Union cooperating closely with its international partners. He also highlighted that Global Gateway offers a way to work together for sustainable development for the benefit of all.
Subsequently, Luxembourg's Prime Minister attended the pre-summit of Renew Europe (liberal political group of the European Parliament) leaders to discuss with his liberal counterparts and colleagues the themes appearing on the European Council agenda.
Among the October session priorities for the European Council, which began on Thursday afternoon, were the mid-term revision of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, external relations, including the situation in the Middle East and in Ukraine, migration, and the economy. During the deliberations, Prime Minister Bettel strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli citizens and stressed that the resulting conflict must not degenerate into a regional conflagration.
On Friday, the EU leaders gathered for the Euro Summit during which they had an exchange with Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup, and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), on the economic situation in Europe.
The heads of state and government of the European Union also continued and finalised their discussions during the European Council. Regarding the situation in the Middle East, the leaders agreed that "the European Union is ready to contribute to reviving a political process on the basis of the two-state solution, including through the Peace Day Effort, and welcomes diplomatic peace and security initiatives and supports the holding of an international peace conference soon."
This was likely to have been Xavier Bettel's last heads of state and government summit as Luxembourg's outgoing Prime Minister; whilst the new government has not yet been formed, following the elections of 8 October 2023, formateur Luc Frieden stands poised to become the Grand Duchy's next Prime Minister.
