(L-R) Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Antonio Tajani, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation;
Credit: MFA Italy
On Tuesday 3 June 2025, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, paid a working visit to Italy.
Minister Bettel took part in a bilateral meeting with Antonio Tajani, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Rome. As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, this meeting provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations and discuss current political developments.
The two ministers welcomed their countries' "excellent" bilateral relations. Minister Bettel highlighted the economic, social and cultural ties between Luxembourg and Italy, particularly strengthened by the presence of many Italian residents in Luxembourg, who constitute the country's third-largest foreign community.
The working meeting also provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on current political issues, including European issues, trade policy, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.
Regarding the latter, the ministers reportedly described the occupation of parts of Gaza and the displacement of the population as "unacceptable". They also reiterated the importance of humanitarian aid for civilian populations. In view of the international conference on the two-state solution, which will be held in mid-June 2025 in New York, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister emphasised the importance of close coordination between EU member states, with the aim of achieving concrete results on the ground.
Moreover, the ministers discussed European defence and the efforts required by member states, as well as migration.
