On Monday 16 November 2015, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Belgium, Didier Reynders, the Netherlands, Bert Koenders, and Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, today met in Brussels for the Benelux Committee to take stock of the work carried out under the Belgian Presidency of Benelux.

The Belgian Presidency, which will be concluded at the end of 2015, was engaged in actions in the fields of energy, sustainable mobility and safety.

The meeting, held in the presence of the Collèe des secrétaires généraux du Benelux, also presented the opportunity to approve the work plan for 2015 and provide an update on the implementation of the Benelux Summit declaration of 29 April. Minister Asselborn presented an overview of the priorities of the future Luxembourg Presidency of Benelux, which will be assumed in 2016. He emphasised that this Presidency would form part of "the continuity of previous Presidencies, which will not keep us from staying innovative and dynamic, in the interest of promoting an active and visible Benelux."

At the meeting, the ministers in attendance approved a Benelux agreement on the circular economy which aims to reconsider old paper not as waste but rather as a raw material. The new agreement will intend to strengthen the internal market for recyclable paper and boost cross-border trade.

 

Photo by MAEE/Nicolas Gierten (L-R: Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders; Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders; Luxembourgish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Asselborn)