Minister Backes Raises Rail Connection, Financial Autonomy of Women, A400M Visit in Brussels

Luxembourg's Directorate of Defence, Ministry of Mobility and Public Works and Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity have reported that, on Wednesday 20 December 2023, Minister Yuriko Backes paid a working visit to Brussels.

The minister began her visit with a bilateral meeting with her Belgian counterpart, Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility of the Belgian federal government. Discussions focused in particular on the project to modernise the Brussels-Luxembourg railway axis, which is part of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), as well as the “North Sea – Mediterranean” corridor.

The two ministers took the opportunity to sign a letter of support to request financial assistance from the European Commission in the context of the Connecting Europe Facility programme, an EU financing instrument which was developed to guide investments in European transport, energy and digital infrastructure to address gaps and bottlenecks.

Minister Backes underlined: “Strengthening rail connectivity via the Brussels-Luxembourg line is one of our priorities. The modernisation of this line will improve travel times for passengers and increase the modal share of rail. It is part of our shared vision of an interoperable and efficient rail network, which constitutes an important pillar of multimodal mobility while assuming its crucial role in reducing carbon emissions. We are therefore fully counting on the support of the European Commission to pursue this cross-border rail project of major importance.”

Georges Gilkinet said: “When we know that every day, 45,000 Belgians travel between the two countries and that 85% of these commuters still use the car to make this trip, it appears obvious that the potential for modal shift of the car towards the rail is important. The close collaboration between Belgium and Luxembourg has always been very fruitful in multiple areas, including rail. And I am delighted to see that the new Luxembourg government will work in continuity with our common ambition to facilitate cross-border mobility via train and to quickly and efficiently connect our two capitals.”

As part of this meeting, the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 January 2024, were also discussed.

During a working lunch with Marie-Colline Leroy, Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Minister Backes had the opportunity to discuss the priorities as well as the avenues of cooperation in the field of promoting gender equality and strengthening diversity. A point of mutual interest particularly concerns the financial autonomy of women and its positive implications at the social and economic levels.

They notably discussed the priorities of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity reflected in the coalition program, including the expansion of skills towards diversity and the rights and needs of LGBTIQ+ people.

Marie-Colline Leroy also presented to Yuriko Backes the emphasis on equality and diversity in the work of the Belgian Presidency, including the fight against violence against women. The Minister and the Secretary of State reaffirmed the desire to continue their excellent bilateral cooperation and that at the level of the European Union.

At the end of the bilateral meetings, Yuriko Backes went to Melsbroek air base for a visit to the binational A400M unit integrated into the 15th Air Transport Wing of the Belgian Defense. Currently, five Luxembourg pilots and three trimmers, including the first woman in the Luxembourg army to hold such a position, are integrated into the binational unit. The latter has seven A400M aircraft, including the Luxembourg aircraft which was delivered in 2020. In 2024, the unit's 8th A400M will be delivered. The planes as well as the crews are engaged without distinction of nationality or affiliation to carry out the various transport or evacuation missions, for the benefit of Luxembourg, Belgium or our partners.

In May 2022, the BELUX National A400M Training Centre, with its A400M flight simulator which marks a new stage in terms of training and pilot training in air transport of the two nations, was inaugurated.

During her visit, Minister Backes thanked the unit’s staff, emphasising: "The binational A400M unit is among the flagship projects of Belgian-Luxembourg cooperation. The extensive integration of members of our two armed forces within a single unit is exemplary for future joint projects, in particular the binational reconnaissance battalion."

The planned meeting with her counterpart, Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder, had to be postponed to a later date, to follow up on an unplanned commitment by Minister Dedonder at the national level.