European Affairs

The Directorate for European Affairs and International Economic Relations (Directorate 2) coordinates European policy across ministerial departments. As such, it serves as the principal contact point for Luxembourg's institutions and bodies on matters relating to European policy. It coordinates, prepares and follows up on the positions expressed by Luxembourg within the European institutions, primarily the Council of the EU.

The Directorate also oversees the transposition and application of European Union law, with a view to meeting the required transposition deadlines and keeping the transposition deficit below the 1% threshold set by the European Commission's internal market scoreboard.

The Directorate provides the secretariat for the Inter-ministerial Committee for the Coordination of European Policy (CICPE). This committee convenes senior officials from ministries handling European affairs, along with the Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the European Union, to coordinate Luxembourg's position on cross-cutting European issues. Chaired by the Director of European Affairs and International Economic Relations, the Committee ensures coherence and unity of Luxembourg's position within the European Union and prepares issues requiring political arbitration. It regularly reviews key items on the agenda of the European Council and the various Council formations. In addition, the CICPE examines matters of particular interest to Luxembourg that require close coordination between the various ministries. The committee monitors the transposition of European directives and reviews the status of infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission due to late, incorrect, or incomplete implementation of EU law.

On behalf of the government, the CICPE fosters an ongoing dialogue with economic and social sectors concerning European matters.

The Committee may meet in a restricted configuration to discuss specific issues in depth. It complements the network of European correspondents, which serves as the primary communication tool between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and other ministries or administrations.

Directorate 2 contributes to keeping the Chamber of Deputies (Parliament) informed about U legislative activity and ongoing negotiations. It monitors the positions expressed by the Chamber of Deputies on European matters and closely tracks the work of the European Parliament in cooperation with the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union.

Directorate 2 also prepares the annual report on the Government's European policy, the transposition of European directives, and the application of EU law. This report is produced within the framework of the memorandum agreed between the Chamber of Deputies and the Luxembourg Government on cooperation in European policy matters.