Barking Loudly
Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel addressed EU enlargement, Israel's settlement policy, the war involving Iran, and the rise of far-right parties across Europe during an interview with RTL on Monday morning.
Iceland vote must be respected
Bettel was asked about the referendum in Iceland, where 52.8% of voters rejected the resumption of negotiations on joining the EU. The result had to be respected, he said. He noted that some of the first politicians to welcome the Icelandic vote had been Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen. "If all you do is talk the EU down, you shouldn't be surprised when people ask why they should become members," he said.
The EU is not a race
Bettel rejected the idea that the bloc should rapidly admit new members. Countries including Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro first had to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria. "The EU is not a race," he stressed. He also rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's proposal for intermediate forms of membership. "Half-membership or three-quarter membership, I really don't think that's a good idea." He pointed to the EU's disputes with Hungary as an example of difficulties that arise once a country is inside the bloc but fails to uphold rules.
Condemns Israeli ministers
On Israel, Bettel said EU foreign policy sanctions require unanimity, which has repeatedly prevented action. He found it frustrating that there was not even a simple majority in favour of sanctions against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. He condemned remarks attributed to Ben-Gvir advocating the killing of Palestinian civilians as "sickening" and criticised Prime Minister Netanyahu for keeping such ministers in government. "If one of my own ministers had made comparable remarks, I would have thrown them out," he said.
With EU-level action blocked, Bettel has asked officials to examine whether Luxembourg could impose measures of its own, particularly regarding trade with occupied Palestinian territories. But he acknowledged the amounts are tiny: Luxembourg's trade with Palestine amounts to less than 15'000 euros. "No one should think the Israeli government is going to tremble and fall because of 15'000 euros," he said.
A dog with no teeth
For Bettel, the wider problem is that the EU can be forceful in its rhetoric while lacking the tools or political agreement to follow through. He likened it to "a dog that barks very loudly but has no teeth and can't bite," arguing the problem points to a broader need for institutional reform both within the EU and at UN level.
On Iran, Bettel questioned both the way the conflict began and the assumption that military pressure would weaken Tehran's regime. Rather than becoming weaker, he believed the Iranian authorities may now be "even worse and stronger than before." He opposed allowing Iran to exercise unrestricted control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that allowing one country to impose charges without challenge could encourage others controlling strategic waterways to do the same.
Impunity is the greatest enemy of democracies
On the rise of far-right parties, Bettel said mainstream politicians needed to understand the concerns driving voters toward them rather than dismissing them. "If people have questions, worries, or fears, whether rational or irrational, you have to understand them and try to find solutions." He welcomed Luxembourg's planned introduction of accelerated court proceedings. "Impunity is the greatest enemy of democracies," Bettel warned. If people begin to feel that the state is no longer in control, support for far-right movements will grow.