Deputy PM Bettel Supports Ambitious Polish Programme for EU Council Presidency

On Tuesday 28 January 2025, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the meeting of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC), which took place in Brussels.

According to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the meeting allowed Poland to present the priorities of its Presidency of the Council of the EU (January 2025 - end of June 2025). Minister Bettel congratulated his Polish counterpart, Adam Szłapka, on the ambitious programme and assured Luxembourg’s support. He stressed the importance of strengthening the security and economic competitiveness of the European Union, stressing the need to continue deepening the internal market and removing obstacles to cross-border activity. On the Schengen area, he recalled that border controls must remain an exception and not become the rule.

The second meeting of the Council was devoted to the annual rule of law dialogue, and in a country-by-country discussion, four countries were examined: Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. Minister Bettel spoke on behalf of the Benelux countries. On Hungary, the discussion focused on media freedom and civic space. On Portugal, efforts to strengthen judicial independence were highlighted. On Romania, the current political context, freedom of the press and the fight against corruption were discussed.