Minister Bettel Participates in EU Council Meeting on Enlargement, Rule of Law

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the General Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday 12 December 2023.

On this occasion, EU ministers prepared for the European Council meeting of Thursday 14 to Friday 15 December 2023. They addressed, among other things, negotiations on enlargement, managing demographic change in Europe and reviewing annual dialogue on the rule of law. The ministers also took stock of the negotiations concerning the association agreement with Andorra and San Marino.

Regarding issues related to EU enlargement, Luxembourg's Foreign Ministry reported that Minister Bettel recalled the importance of taking the necessary decisions, in line with the relevant recommendations of the European Commission.

Ahead of this meeting, Minister Bettel participated, together with his Belgian and Dutch counterparts, Hadja Lahbib and Hanke Bruins Slot, respectively, in the meeting of the Benelux Committee of Ministers.

In the presence of the College of Secretaries General of Benelux, the Committee of Ministers assessed the results obtained in 2023. The ministers notably indicated their agreement for the finalisation of their 2024 work plan which makes it possible to concretise structural cooperation at the Benelux level in establishing the projects which materialise this cooperation.

On this occasion they recalled the importance of cross-border cooperation and reaffirmed Benelux's desire to remain a laboratory for Europe. The ministers also discussed the importance of maintaining strong and dynamic coordination in matters of foreign affairs.

The meeting brought the Dutch Presidency to a close. Minister Lahbib then informed her colleagues of the first outlines of the future Belgian Presidency of the Benelux, which will begin on 1 January 2024.