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Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, speaking with RTL, said EU divisions are blocking tougher action on Israel

Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel spoke with RTL Radio on Tuesday morning, following Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. The agenda included further sanctions against Russia, but the EU continues to struggle to agree on sanctions against Israeli ministers. Asked why measures against Israel were proving more difficult than those targeting Russia, Bettel pointed to the unanimity rules that apply to a number of sanctions decisions.

He said several countries had wanted to force a vote on Monday, but that calculations showed there might not even have been a majority, let alone unanimity. In the end, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was tasked with preparing an analysis and putting forward proposals on possible measures. Bettel said he was being transparent in admitting that there was also disagreement within the European Commission itself. According to him, some commissioners are prepared to go further, while others are not.

Luxembourg and a number of other countries pushed for at least some measures to be examined, including against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom Bettel described as an extremist whose behaviour was unacceptable. He also referred to possible measures concerning products from settlements and settlers themselves. Bettel stressed that settlers are often accompanied by Israeli soldiers, which, in his view, means that such policies are effectively being supported. He said the EU had now asked the Commission to do its homework and that proposals had been promised for July, although he noted that similar promises had already been heard in recent months. The Foreign Minister said he could not guarantee that unanimity, or even a majority, would ultimately be reached on certain questions.

Also today

• A Quest Market Intelligence survey reveals most international residents feel highly welcome and plan a long-term future in Luxembourg
• The government has confirmed that Luxembourg will participate in the next three Eurovision Song Contests
• From Friday, as new legislation on shop opening hours takes effect, many Luxembourg petrol stations will close earlier in the evenings.
• Iran has said talks with the US on its nuclear programme and sanctions relief would likely begin later this week
• Campaigners have appealed to G7 leaders meeting in France to move quickly on regulating generative artificial intelligence.
• Britain's Prince George will attend the prestigious private school Eton College from September, Kensington Palace has announced today.

On air

Tom is super excited about the news that West Side Cowboy will be visiting Luxembourg and is celebrating with an Algorhythm dedicated to the band! It's also Iceland's National Day tomorrow!

Figure of the day

Finance Minister Gilles Roth has revealed that the Luxembourg State rents 302 buildings at a total annual cost of over €166 million.

• This information was disclosed by Minister of Finance Gilles Roth in response to a parliamentary question from MP Mars Di Bartolomeo of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP). The reply includes a table listing all buildings and their respective locations.
• The highest individual rent is for a property housing services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which amounts to €6.9 million per year.

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