The Luxembourg Presidency was officially launched with a European picnic in the centre of the City of Luxembourg and the visit of the College of Commissioners
The Mayor of the City of Luxembourg Lydie Polfer i, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker i, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel i and Mars di Bartolomeo, president of the Parliament
(c) eu2015lu.eu / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU was officially launched on 3 July 2015 with a European picnic in the centre of the City of Luxembourg and the visit of the College of Commissioners. On the Place d'Armes and in adjacent streets, a 'happy hour' was organised from 6pm offering culinary specialities from the 28 Member States, such as Spanish tapas and calamari, Portuguese cod fritters and British fish and chips.
At 6.30pm, the European Commissioners and their President Jean-Claude Juncker appeared on the Place d’Armes where they were welcomed by Lydie Polfer, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, and Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
Lydie Polfer wished the Luxembourg Presidency and the European Commission 'all the best' in making Europe 'synonymous with progress and harmony' and 'stronger and showing more solidarity'. 'This is your city, because with 69% of non-Luxembourgish residents, the city of Luxembourg is a truly European city', she said.
Xavier Bettel stated that 'this will not be an easy presidency'. 'Europe must remain united', he added. He called for solidarity and stressed that the European 'peace project' 'is still a reality'.
Jean-Claude Juncker remarked with a wink that it was 'as hot as in Athens'. He considered that this Luxembourg Presidency of the Council would be as 'successful' as the eleven previous ones, because there is 'the same momentum'.
After the speeches, the European anthem was sung by youth choirs. Despite the heat, queues formed quickly in front of the stands. Monique and René, a Luxembourgish couple, came to find the special edition of 'Presidency' postage stamps at the post office stand. 'I hope that the Presidency will convey a positive image of Luxembourg abroad', said Monique who claims to be 'proud' of the Presidency.
Most of the people interviewed by our team on their expectations of the Presidency discussed the problem of refugees, as well as the Greek ('Grexit') and British ('Brexit') questions. 'The problem of refugees must be the first priority of the Presidency', considered Gaëlle, a French-Belgian citizen who works at the Court of Justice of the EU. But this will not be simple, added Claude, a Luxembourgish lawyer, as 'decisions are often taken by the Member States'.
For his part, Frédéric, a Luxembourgish civil servant felt that the Luxembourg Presidency is a good opportunity for Luxembourg to make itself better known.
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