(L-R) Maria Panayiotou, Cyprus' Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment; Serge Wilmes, Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity;
Credit: HADJIELIA KYRIAKOS / PIO
Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, participated in the informal meeting of EU Environment Ministers, held on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 February 2026 in Lefkosia, under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
According to Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, discussions focused on strengthening Europe's climate resilience, with particular emphasis on the sustainable management and resilience of water resources, as well as integrating these issues into key sectors such as agriculture, tourism and energy, notably within the framework of the future European climate change adaptation plan.
During the discussions, Minister Wilmes emphasised the central role of science in guiding climate and environmental policies, enabling the setting of clear and common objectives, the definition of relevant indicators and the measurement of progress, particularly in climate change adaptation. He also reiterated that private financing plays a crucial role in scaling up integrated resilience projects. In this context, the upcoming "Climate Nexus" investment programme is expected to attract private capital and support projects with multiple benefits.
"Building a resilient Europe requires sectoral coordination, a common scientific foundation, consistent implementation of European frameworks and robust integrated financing," stressed Minister Wilmes.
EU ministers also discussed recent European Commission initiatives on the circular economy. Minister Wilmes reiterated Luxembourg's support for the ambition to create a competitive European single market for recycled raw materials, particularly in the plastics sector, while emphasising the importance of a level playing field and high quality standards.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Wilmes announced the first edition of the Luxembourg International Climate Finance Days (Luxembourg ICF Days), which will take place in Luxembourg City from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 June 2026. Addressing the growing gap between climate ambitions and implementation, and in a context of increasing financial constraints, this high-level event will bring together government representatives, international institutions and private sector stakeholders. The Luxembourg ICF Days aim to identify concrete solutions to strengthen climate finance and mobilise investments, particularly to achieve the new collective target of $300 billion per year for developing countries by 2035.
Organised ahead of the UNFCCC subsidiary body meetings in Bonn and bridging the gap between COP30 in Belém and COP31 in Antalya, the event will focus on moving from goals to implementation, strengthening cooperation and aligning financial flows with global climate objectives.
