Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Affairs; Credit: MAE Luxembourg

On Monday 27 January 2025, as part of Luxembourg's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, visited Strasbourg, France.

As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Minister Bettel, in his capacity as President of the Committee of Ministers, delivered an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). He provided an initial assessment of the Presidency (active since 13 November 2024), which is guided by three main priorities, namely defending the rule of law, living together and inclusion, and culture. He welcomed the organisation of five meetings of the Committee of Ministers under the chairmanship of the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg in Strasbourg, as well as an informal meeting on the democratic participation of young people in the digital age.

Minister Bettel reaffirmed Luxembourg's "unwavering" commitment to the Council of Europe and to multilateralism. 80 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army, he stressed the importance of dialogue and mutual listening in the current geopolitical context. He also addressed the current situations in Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia and Kosovo.

As reported by the Council of Europe, Minister Bettel said: "The Council of Europe must continue to be a platform for dialogue", also noting that all states must meet their international obligations, including the execution of the European Court of Human Rights' judgments.

The trip to Strasbourg also allowed Minister Bettel to meet with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. The meeting was an opportunity to review Mr Berset's visit to Georgia from 18 to 20 December 2024.

Minister Bettel also had meetings with Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and with Elena-Valerica Lasconi, candidate in the presidential election in Romania.