Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Affairs;
Credit: © SIP / Claude Piscitelli
Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU (Trade) in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday 30 May 2024.
Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade reported that the meeting allowed trade ministers to first look at the future of EU trade policy. The debate was expected to provide guidance to the European Commission on Member States' priorities in terms of EU trade policy.
Minister Bettel recalled that strengthening the autonomy of the EU should not come at the cost of openness to the world. He insisted on the need to defend EU standards in terms of climate protection and to prevent unfair competition. He also mentioned sustainable investment facilitation agreements (SIFA), which he said represent an avenue to explore, particularly with partner countries on the African continent.
During a second session, the ministers had an exchange on trade relations between the EU and Africa and how they can be deepened for a mutually beneficial partnership.
