© Xavier Descamps
PM Luc Frieden hosted his Belgian and Dutch counterparts at Bourglinster Castle on Wednesday for a Benelux Summit, stressing regional unity in the face of war, political instability, and energy challenges.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden on Wednesday hosted his Belgian and Dutch counterparts at Bourglinster Castle for the Benelux Summit, underlining the need for close coordination during what he called a complex moment in recent history. "In complicated times, it is essential to coordinate with one's neighbours", Frieden said after the meeting.
Discussions focused on international crises and regional cooperation, particularly in security, energy, and the economy.
The three leaders also addressed the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, instability in Poland, and broader global tensions.
"We see a terrible situation in Gaza, you saw what happened in Qatar on Tuesday, a terrible situation in Ukraine for years, and the Russians show no signs of stopping. ... It is important that we stand together and perhaps also look at joint projects", Frieden told reporters at Bourglinster Castle while pointing to past Benelux cooperation efforts.
Energy cooperation featured prominently on the agenda. The leaders discussed advancing cross-border connections for renewable energy and green hydrogen. "We talked about projects in the North Sea, where Belgium and the Netherlands are of course present, and where we as Luxembourgers absolutely want to be involved. This is naturally about wind energy," Frieden explained.
Following the trilateral talks, the minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia and the vice president of the French region Hauts-de-France joined the summit, highlighting the importance of partnerships with adjacent regions.
Political instability in the broader Benelux region also weighed on discussions. Dutch elections are scheduled for 29 October after the government collapsed in June, while France faces ongoing uncertainty.
"We see the situation in France with some concern", Frieden said. "It is good that the president immediately appointed a new prime minister, but one must also find a stable majority in parliament. I am glad that in Luxembourg we manage time and again through dialogue to maintain stability. That stability is essential, especially in turbulent times as we have now with Russia, America, and other conflicts, notably in the Middle East."
