Luxembourg, France Foreign Ministers Discuss Persistence of Russian Threat for Europe

Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, paid a working visit to Paris on Thursday 7 December 2023.

Minister Bettel was received at the Quai d'Orsay by his counterpart Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, for a working meeting. The two ministers welcomed the “excellent bilateral relations between Luxembourg and France,” and shared the observation that cross-border links between the two countries should be further developed.

“This is my first bilateral working visit since I took office, which demonstrates the close ties that bind our two countries,” declared Minister Bettel in this regard.

In addition to bilateral relations, the meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the main European and international issues, including in particular the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in Gaza as well as the latest developments in the Sahel.

Ministers Bettel and Colonna highlighted the need for the EU, despite the multiple crises it faces, to keep Russian aggression against Ukraine - which directly threatens the security of the European continent - on the agenda of the European political programme.

The ministers also took stock of the situation in Gaza, the day after the follow-up meeting of the humanitarian conference for the civilian population in Gaza that France organised. In this context, France and Luxembourg stressed the urgency of renewing the humanitarian truce and achieving a permanent ceasefire. “The main thing must be to put an end to the suffering of civilian populations,” declared the head of Luxembourg diplomacy.

The ministers also mentioned the need for the European Union to remain united in the face of numerous crises, such as in Ukraine or Gaza.