Grand Duke Guillaume’s Madrid Visit Highlights Energy, Space & Economic Cooperation

On Thursday 5 March 2026, Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie began a two-day visit to Madrid at the invitation of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

The Grand Ducal couple were accompanied by Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, and Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth.

Madrid welcomed the Luxembourg delegation with warm spring sunshine, as around 500 spectators gathered outside the Royal Palace of Madrid where the first part of the visit took place. The crowd applauded as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrived for the official welcome ceremony alongside Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie.

The ceremony included military honours, the playing of the national anthems and an inspection of the troops by the two heads of state. The delegations then proceeded inside the palace for the official programme.

Following the presentation of the respective delegations, Grand Duke Guillaume held a bilateral meeting with King Felipe VI at the Royal Palace of Madrid. The meeting was attended on the Luxembourg side by Ministers Xavier Bettel, Lex Delles and Gilles Roth. On the Spanish side, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, José Manuel Albares, was also present. At the same time, Grand Duchess Stéphanie joined Queen Letizia for a visit to the Royal Palace’s watch collection.

The first part of the programme concluded with an official luncheon at the Royal Palace of Madrid attended by around 80 guests, including members of the delegations and Spanish personalities. In his speech, King Felipe VI highlighted the close historical and political ties between the two countries, stating: “Spain and Luxembourg share history, culture and a common vision of Europe and the world.” He also referred to cooperation within the European Union, noting that a united Europe “draws nourishment from an old utopia, is forged upon the aspirations for peace and cooperation.”

In his remarks, Grand Duke Guillaume emphasised the long-standing friendship between the two nations and their people-to-people ties. “For more than 500 years, Spain and Luxembourg have walked such a path together, leaving traces in our history and culture,” he said. He also noted the growing links between the two societies, pointing out that nearly 10,000 Spanish nationals currently live in Luxembourg and contribute to the country’s economic and social life.

Later in the afternoon, the Grand Duke was received by Pedro Sánchez at La Moncloa Palace, the seat of the Spanish government. Following the presentation of the delegations and the signing of the guest book by the Grand Duke, a working meeting took place with Luxembourg's Ministers Xavier Bettel, Lex Delles and Gilles Roth in attendance. The Spanish side was represented by Sara Aagesen, Third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares.

The meeting was followed by the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) between Spain and Luxembourg covering cooperation in the fields of energy and space, as well as political consultations. Minister Lex Delles signed the agreements on energy and space on behalf of Luxembourg. On the Spanish side, Sara Aagesen signed the MoU on energy and José Manuel Albares signed the agreement on space. The MoU on political consultations was signed by Xavier Bettel for Luxembourg and José Manuel Albares for Spain.

Through the rainy streets of Madrid, the Luxembourg delegation then travelled to the Palace of the Cortes, the seat of the Spanish Congress of Deputies. There, the Luxembourg Head of State was received by Francina Armengol, President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, and by Pedro Manuel Rollán Ojeda, President of the Spanish Senate. Following a visit to the plenary chamber and the signing of the guest book, the Grand Duke, accompanied by Ministers Lex Delles and Gilles Roth, held discussions with the presidents of both chambers and members of their respective bureaux.

After the parliamentary visit, the three Luxembourg ministers held a briefing for Luxembourg media representatives, outlining the key political, economic and financial outcomes of the visit.

Speaking about the broader diplomatic context, Xavier Bettel underlined the importance of continued dialogue and coordination among European partners at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. He referred to recent discussions with European counterparts on international security and regional stability, stressing the need for solidarity between EU member states and coordinated responses to crises affecting Europe and its neighbouring regions. Minister Bettel also addressed the situation in the Middle East, noting that Luxembourg remains in close contact with its partners regarding developments in the region. He mentioned ongoing coordination concerning logistical arrangements and evacuation possibilities, including potential transit solutions through regional hubs such as Muscat in Oman.

Lex Delles focused on the economic dimension of the visit, highlighting Spain as one of Luxembourg’s key economic partners within the European Union. He noted growing cooperation in sectors such as space, energy, innovation and technology, as well as opportunities for collaboration between start-ups and research institutions. Minister Delles also referred to the memoranda of understanding signed earlier in the day, particularly those concerning energy cooperation, hydrogen development and space-sector partnerships.

Gilles Roth emphasised the strong financial ties between Luxembourg and Spain and Luxembourg’s role as an international financial centre. He noted that 115 banks currently operate in Luxembourg, including six major Spanish banks with branches in the country. According to the minister, around 70 Spanish investment funds are active in Luxembourg, managing more than €30 billion in assets, while Spanish securities held in Luxembourg amount to roughly €50 billion. He also pointed out that Luxembourg’s investment fund industry manages about €8 trillion in assets globally, adding that around 72% of Spanish fund investments are channelled through Luxembourg, illustrating what he described as a mutually beneficial financial relationship between the two countries.

The first day of the visit concluded with a reception for members of the economic and financial community hosted by the Luxembourg Embassy in Madrid. In his remarks, the Grand Duke highlighted the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between Luxembourg and Spain, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, space technologies and finance. “This visit to Madrid is one of the first official trips abroad that I have undertaken since my accession to the throne,” he noted, adding that strengthened cooperation between the two countries would help “shape collaborations and solutions that will benefit Europe as a whole.” He also stressed the importance of European unity in the current geopolitical context, stating that “today, more than ever, we need reliable partners with whom we can build a stronger Europe and safeguard our common future.”