Remit

The tasks of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade are defined in Annex B of the Government's internal regulations.

I. Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Foreign Trade and the Greater Region

  1. International relations – Coordination between ministerial departments in the field of international relations – Foreign and security policy – Peacekeeping operations – Interministerial committee on human rights – International cultural relations – International organisations and conferences – International treaties and agreements – Administration and general coordination of the Ministry – Diplomatic service – Consular affairs: passports, visas, legalisations and consular assistance – Government protocol (in conjunction with the Ministry of State for public ceremonies).
  2. European policy – Coordination of European policy between ministerial departments – Coordination of the transposition and application of European Union law – Interministerial committee for the coordination of European policy (CICPE) – Interministerial coordination committee for cross-border cooperation (CICT) – Institutionalized cooperation of the Greater Region – House of the Greater Region.
  3. International economic relations – Multilateral economic organisations – International commercial policy – Economic diplomacy – Coordination of the implementation of international sanctions – Economic security (international and European aspects).
  4. Headquarters of European and international institutions and bodies – Headquarters policy – Coordinating Committee for the Installation of European Institutions and Bodies.
  5. Economic promotion and prospecting – Promotion of foreign trade – Investment prospecting (in conjunction with the Ministry of the Economy, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of State) – Chairmanship of the Trade and Investment Board (TIB) (responsibility shared with the Ministry of the Economy), Chairmanship of the Trade and Investment Steering Committee (TISC) – TISC coordination, TIB – Economic missions – Trade fairs and specialised exhibitions abroad – Supervision of the international activities of Luxembourg companies – Financial instruments to promote exports – Administration and management of the network of Luxembourg trade and investment offices (LTIO) – Coordination and financing of the prospecting aspect of Luxinnovation – Control of exports, imports and transit – OCEIT – EIG Universal Exhibitions.
  6. Coordination and implementation of development cooperation and humanitarian action policy – Coordination of Luxembourg's official development aid – Coordination and implementation of the international component of the Sustainable Development Goals – European Investment Bank (EIB World component) – Multilateral development banks (including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) (development cooperation component) – Management of agents for bilateral projects and programmes – Relations with non-governmental organisations – Relations with European and multilateral development and humanitarian action organisations – Interministerial Committee for Development Cooperation.

II. Defence

  1. General defence policy and international defence cooperation policy – Strategic planning of the defence effort – Planning and monitoring of deployments in peacekeeping and preventive operations, as well as crisis management – Development of national and multinational defence capabilities in the land, air, space and cyber domains for military or dual-use purposes – Supporting the development of a whole-of-government approach to the defence effort in collaboration with the High Commission for National Protection and the relevant ministries and authorities, in particular the Ministry of Health and Social Security.
  2. Army: Defence of national territory – Disaster relief – Participation in joint defence as part of international organisations – Participation in crisis management operations and humanitarian aid missions – Participation in verifying and monitoring the implementation of international agreements on arms control – Modernisation of infrastructure and equipment – Social role – Retraining of volunteer soldiers – Military courts – Military orders – Veterans – Relations with allied and partner military bodies – Military sports.