Luxembourg takes the chair of the Benelux Council of Ministers
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On 19 December 2024, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, attended a virtual meeting of the Benelux Council of Ministers. The meeting marked the transfer of the presidency from Belgium to Luxembourg. Together with the Belgian Foreign Ministers Bernard Quintin and the Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Xavier Bettel summarised the work of the Belgian Presidency and presented Luxembourg's priorities for 2025.
Belgium focused its efforts on:
- development of the domestic market,
- the greening of the economy,
- cross-border co-operation,
- strengthening security.
Xavier Bettel thanked his Belgian colleagues for their fruitful work and co-operation.
The Luxembourg Chairmanship identified three key areas of focus:
- Progress and prosperity through integration and innovation.
- Deepening cooperation with neighbouring regions.
- Protection and safety of citizens.
These areas will form the basis for the work of the three countries within the Benelux.
The Council of Ministers has formally adopted a four-year strategic work plan. It covers key areas of interaction between Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, including economic co-operation, sustainable development and citizen protection.
