Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs;
Credit: MAE
On Tuesday 13 October 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade reported on the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, in the meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).
The meeting, held in Luxembourg on Monday 12 October, featured a discussion on the Middle East, during which Minister Bettel expressed regret at the announcement that legislative elections in Palestine would be postponed by one year. This decision by the President of the Palestinian Authority represents another setback for Palestinians, who have not voted in elections since 2006. Xavier Bettel called for legislative elections to be held in the near future.
Regarding trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Luxembourg’s foreign minister once again expressed regret that EU Member States had failed to agree on restrictive measures. Luxembourg is therefore working on national measures aimed at restricting imports of goods originating from these settlements.
Regarding Lebanon, Minister Bettel welcomed progress towards a new EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission.
Moreover, Minister Bettel returned to the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, describing them as a worrying development and expressing his solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the victims of the attacks.
The ministers also exchanged views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, joined the discussions for part of the meeting.
As part of the sanctions regime aimed at supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the ministers approved restrictive measures against 1,569 individuals and entities belonging to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Regarding the discussion on the security implications of an enlarged Union, Minister Bettel addressed the current geopolitical context and its implications for candidate countries. He stressed that the enlargement process must remain merit-based and credible.
The ministers also discussed the United States’ announcement that it intended to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Minister Bettel reiterated the importance of the ICC and international law to Luxembourg.
On the sidelines of the FAC meeting, Minister Bettel and his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys, signed a headquarters agreement allowing Lithuania to establish a data embassy in Luxembourg.
Also on the sidelines of the FAC meeting, Minister Bettel met with Bulgaria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Velislava Petrova-Chamova. The meeting provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Bulgaria, particularly in the context of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which is being celebrated in 2026.
