Minister Bettel Leads Discussions on Ukraine, Gaza at EU Foreign Affairs Council

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting of the Council of the EU, which was held on Monday 24 June 2024 in Luxembourg.

The meeting provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza and an exchange of views with the foreign ministers of the Western Balkan countries. Other current issues, such as the Great Lakes region and Georgia situation, were also discussed, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade confirmed.

Concerning the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Minister Bettel reiterated once again Luxembourg's continued support for Ukraine. Luxembourg welcomed the adoption of the fourteenth package of sanctions against Russia. The minister stressed that it is necessary to continue to move forward on concrete measures that will support Ukraine, including the European Peace Facility and the Ukraine Facility.

As for the situation in Gaza, Minister Bettel insisted on better access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Gaza, and urged the Israeli government to fully comply with the interim measures of the International Court of Justice. The head of Luxembourg's diplomacy also stressed the need for both parties to accept the United States' ceasefire proposal, following UN Security Council Resolution 2735. Minister Bettel called for a swift solution to be found with Israel for the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority that is currently being withheld by Israel and called on the European Commission to swiftly finalise the EU support package for the Palestinian Authority for 2024: “The EU must actively support the Palestinian Authority and its reform plan, which is why we must move forward with the payment in support of the Palestinian Authority. We must avoid its financial collapse.”

Inauguration ceremony of the Star of the Republic of Croatia in Schengen

On the sidelines of the FAC meeting, Minister Bettel and his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić-Radman, visited Schengen to officially inaugurate the Star of the Republic of Croatia in front of the “Schengen Agreements” monument, after Croatia became the 27th country to join the Schengen area on 1 January 2023.

Informal dinner and reception at the Grand Ducal Palace

At the invitation of Minister Bettel, some forty Prime Ministers, European Commissioners, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs then met for an informal dinner. Before this informal exchange, these members of European and African governments were received in audience by Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace.